Buffalo Field Office
Buffalo Federal Detention Facility

About Us

Who Are We?
Where Are We?
Hours and Visitations
Contacting Us
Local Procedures

Who Are We?

This is a temporary detention center for individuals who are waiting for their immigration status to be determined or who are awaiting repatriation. ICE Detention & Removal Operations (DRO) administers the operations of this Facility.

Detention and Removal Operations
Field Office Director: Michael T. Phillips
Assistant Field Office Director: Juanita P. Hester
(716) 551-4741

Where Are We?

Street Address:
Buffalo Federal Detention Facility
4250 Federal Drive
Batavia, New York 14020

By Bus: If you travel by BUS: Contact New York Trailways, First Choice Travel, Valu Plaza, Batavia, New York 14020 at 1 (800) 295-5555 or Genesee Valley Transportation, 8364 Lewiston Road, Batavia, New York, 14020.

Parking: Parking is available on-site.

Accessibility for Individuals with Special Needs: Facility is Handicapped Accessible.

Hours and Visitations

Administration: Monday through Friday, by appointment only.

Detainee Visitation: Seven days a week:

Monday through Friday: 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m., 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

All visits must be scheduled and will be non-contact. Visits will be limited to one (1) per day, 30-minute duration. Detainees will be permitted a maximum of two weekend visits per month. Any disruptive conduct on either party will result in the termination of the visit.

There will be a limit of four visitors approved for any one 30-minute visit. Every child under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by an adult and an adult may be responsible for no more than one child at any time on the property. If detainee visitor(s) bring children [less than 18 years of age] they are expected to remain under the direct supervision of the adult visitor(s) so they will not disturb others who have visitors. No visits will be permitted for minors unless they are accompanied by an adult (18 yrs or older). The number of visitors in the visiting booth will be limited to one adult and one non-adult visitor. Children must not be left unaccompanied in waiting room.

Visitors must be in appropriate and socially accepted attire. The following is a list of unacceptable attire (but is not limited to this list):

• Mini skirts
• Short shorts
• Bare feet
• Tank tops
• Tube tops
• Sexually explicit attire
• Transparent or translucent material (see thru clothes)
• Anything not deemed appropriate attire by officer on duty

Attorney Visitation:

Legal representatives or paralegals may visit detainees seven (7) days a week. Attorney visits need not be scheduled, however, it is encouraged that attorneys call ahead when possible to advise the Facility of their pending visit. Attorney visits are generally not conducted during meal times. Upon request, special consideration will be made to suit the schedule of the attorney. A list of pro bono (free) legal organizations will be posted in all detainee housing units and other appropriate areas. This list shall be updated when necessary.

Consular Visits:

Consular officials may meet with their detained nationals at any time. It is requested that prior arrangements be made with the office of the ICE Assistant Field Office Director to the extent possible, and that consular officials bring appropriate credentials when they come to the Facility. The Assistant Field Office Director can be reached at (585) 343-0814.

Clergy Visits:

All detainees shall have access to religious resources, services, instruction and counseling on a voluntary basis. All detainees shall be extended the greatest amount of freedom and opportunity for pursuing any legitimate religious belief or practice within the constraints of security and safety considerations. The religious service schedule is posted in the housing unit. Detainees will be allowed to attend one religious service of their preference.

Visiting Restrictions: See Detainee Visitation.

Search Procedures (prior or during family or attorney visitations):

It is the policy of the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility (BFDF) to ensure that prospective visitors or others do not enter the Facility when there is a likelihood they are conveying contraband or may cause a serious disruption to institutional operations.

Searches of Visitors:
Staff shall verify the identity of each visitor (through driver’s license, photo identification etc.) prior to admission of the visitor to the Facility. No adult visitor shall be admitted without positive identification.

All visitors are subject to a pat-down search as well as a visual inspection of all purses, briefcases, packages, etc. according to the Performance Based National Detention Standards on Visitation. These searches will also include the use of metal detection equipment. Ordinarily, visitors will be required to secure purses, briefcases, packages etc. in their vehicles or in the visitor lockers provided.

Officers will advise all persons entering the Facility of all prohibited items. A list of restricted items will be posted outside each entrance to the Facility, and prospective visitors will be required to sign a form acknowledging they have been informed of these restrictions and agree to abide by them.

All official and other visitors are subject to search via a walk-through metal detection device and hand-held metal detectors. In addition all hand carried items will be passed through x-ray scanner and hand searched.

Contacting Us

Detention:

Many of the detainees held in the Facility were taken into custody at one of the area’s surrounding airports, seaports or land ports / or by other ICE or DHS Components. Some detainees have been transferred in from other states. If you need information about a detainee you may call (585) 343-0814 during normal business hours. (Please do not call until the detainee has been in our custody for at least 24 hours). When you do call, please have his biographical information ready, including first, last and hyphenated names, any alias names he/she may use, date of birth and country of birth. If you do not have this information, we may not be able to help you.

If you need to get in touch with a detainee you must call (585) 343-0814 and leave the detainee’s full name, alien registration number and a telephone number where you can be reached. He will be given your message.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA):

All FOIA/PA requests must be submitted on form G-639 (Freedom of Information / Privacy Act Request) or in letter format. All requests must contain the original notarized signature of the subject in question. Please complete the form G-639 thoroughly and if writing a letter, be sure to include your full name, any other names used, date of birth, place of birth, A-number, and your address and telephone number, so that we may contact you if we have any questions.

Mail your FOIA/PA request to:

Mail (US Postal System and all overnight mail/FedEx):
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Freedom of Information Act Office
800 North Capitol Street, NW, Room 585
Washington, DC 20536

Phone – 1-866-633-1182
E-mail – ICE-FOIA@dhs.gov

Finding the status of your case:

Immigration Court:
For information about a matter before the Immigration Court you may contact them at 1-800-898-7180. Applications for relief from removal, stay of removal, and other applications requested by the Immigration Judge must be filed directly with the Immigration Court at the address above.

Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA):
For information about a matter before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) you may contact them at (703) 605-1007 where you can obtain automated information and/or speak to a live representative during office hours. Their menu of automated options includes:

• Information about the Board's mailing address, location, and web site information
• Appeals and motions
• Transcripts and briefs
• Board decisions and stays of deportation
• Change of address

Legal Help:

Click the link for a list of pro bono representatives who might be able to assist you.

Talking with the Press/Media:

The Facility has a responsibility to protect the privacy and other rights of detainees and members of the staff; therefore, interviews will be regulated to ensure the orderly and safe operation of the Facility. Ordinarily, live television or radio interviews will not be permitted in the facility.

Correspondence and Phone Contacts with the Media:
Detainees may correspond with the media and may use facility telephones at their own expense to call the media.

Personal Interviews:
A news media representative who desires to conduct an interview with a detainee must apply in writing to the Buffalo Office of Detention and Removal, indicating familiarity with and agreement to comply with the rules and regulations of the Facility as provided to that person by staff.

Detainee Consent:
A detainee has the right not to be interviewed, photographed, or recorded by the media. Before interviewing, photographing, or recording the voice of a detainee, a visiting representative of the media must obtain written permission from that individual.

Press Information Office:

For press inquiries, please contact the ICE Public Affairs Officer in Burlington, Vermont, at (802) 802-6075.

Feedback:

We strive to provide quality service to people in our custody, their family, friends, and to their official representatives. If you believe that we have not lived up to this commitment, we would like to know. If we have met or exceeded your expectations, please let us know that as well. To comment on the services provided at this office, please write to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Assistant Field Office Director Martin Herron, 4250 Federal Avenue, Batavia, NY 14020.

If you feel that an ICE employee or a Facility employee mistreated you and wish to make a complaint of misconduct, you may call or write to:

Director of Detention and Removal Operations
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
130 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14202
716-551-4741 ext. 2500

or

Director, Office of Professional Responsibility
425 “I” Street, NW
Room 3260
Washington, DC 20229
(877) 246-8253

You may also file a complaint by filing a DHS Form I-847.

Local Procedures

Bonds:

To post a Departure or Delivery Bond:
These bonds are posted when a person has been placed into Removal/Deportation Proceedings while in the United States. The person supplying the bond money must show proof of identity. This person (the obligor) is responsible for ensuring that the alien presents himself before an officer or agent of this agency whenever a request is made. For bond information, please call (716) 551-4741, Ext. 2500. You must have the last name of the detainee and alien registration number before calling.

Mail:

Sending Mail:
Detainees may send or receive mail to or from anyone they know personally. Detainees may seal outgoing letters and place them in the detainee mailbox. All letters are subject to inspection, both for content and contraband. Detainees are responsible for the contents of their letters. Detainees will only be permitted to mail correspondence, any enclosures such as candy, t-shirts etc., will be considered contraband. Detainees are not allowed to mail out the discs available for purchase through commissary.

Incoming legal correspondence will be treated as privileged only if the name and official status of the sender appear on the envelope. Outgoing legal correspondence similarly requires that not only the name, but also the official status of the recipient appear on the envelope. It will be the detainees responsibility to advise the senders of legal correspondence of the labeling requirements. Both incoming and outgoing legal mail shall be labeled “Legal Mail” on the envelope.

Incoming mail that does not list Detainee/ID numbers will be rejected and returned to the sender. This includes legal mail.

Medical Care:

Within Facility care:

The US Division of Immigration Health Services (DIHS) provides medical care. If detainees are ill or in need of medical attention they must first sign up for Sick Call. Sick Call at this Facility is provided to all detainees from the time of admission to the time of release in order to provide continuous medical care. Sick call sign up is available 24 hours per day in the housing units, via a drop box located in every housing unit. Sick call slips are picked up every day. All detainees signing up for sick call will be seen the following day, with the exception of Saturdays, Sundays, and holiday. The sick call slips will be triaged and the detainee will be seen on the next business day as appropriate. Detainees signing up for sick call on the weekend will generally be seen on Monday if deemed non-urgent after review of the slip. Emergency care is always available.

Money:

Detainee Sending Money Out:
To send money, a detainee must complete a Detainee Money Order Request Form and forward it to the housing unit officer. Arrangements will be made by the Supervisory Immigration Enforcement Agent (SIEA)/Captain and the Commissary Department for you to send a money order at your own expense. Request forms must be submitted by Sunday evening for consideration that week. The detainee will be charged a money order fee in accordance with the current United States Postal Service money order rate. If a detainees request is approved, the detainee may expect to receive the money order for mailing on Wednesdays.

Receiving Money:
Detainees may receive funds by mail or from a visitor during an authorized visit. Only certified checks or money orders will be accepted. Cash WILL NOT be accepted in person or by mail. If a detainee receives funds from outside the Facility, the money will be forwarded to their commissary account. A United States Postal Service money order is the only money order that is guaranteed and therefore is the only type of money order not subject to a hold. All other money orders and certified checks may be subject to a 15-day hold.

Sending Packages:

Detainees are not allowed to send or receive packages without the SDDO or designee’s approval. When detainees are in-processed, they will only be allowed to retain property that fits inside of the storage bin. Any additional property must be mailed out at the detainees own expense or will be disposed of per ICE policy. Any outgoing packages will be searched prior to being sealed.

Receiving Packages:

If you receive authorized property in the mail, you will be taken to the Processing area for the items to be placed in storage. The Processing Officer will receipt any property received. Property may only be received if prior approval was obtained from a supervisor via a Detainee Request Form.

ICE detainees may, upon issuance of a final removal order, request to receive one package, via U.S. Mail or other certified carriers only, containing only one set of clothes to be worn during removal. This request must be made on the Detainee Request Form and must be approved by the Unit Manager or designee. Anything more than one set of clothing will be refused and returned to sender. If any package is received without prior approval, it will be refused. Absolutely no food products will be accepted in this package. If received, the food products will be destroyed.

Religious Services and Observances:

All detainees shall have access to religious resources, services, instruction and counseling on a voluntary basis. All detainees shall be extended the greatest amount of freedom and opportunity for pursuing any legitimate religious belief or practice within the constraints of security and safety considerations. The religious service schedule is posted in the housing unit. Detainees will be allowed to participate in religious services for one denomination of their preference. Any changes in religion must be documented via a Detainee Request forwarded to the Chaplain.

Smoking: This is a non-smoking Facility. No cigarettes, tobacco, or smoking paraphernalia is allowed.

Making Telephone Calls:

Each housing unit has four phones available for detainee use. The phones are collect and debit only; however, collect international calls, including Canada, are unavailable. The phone system is not capable of allowing 1-800 or other toll-free calls. Upon admission to the Facility, detainees will be issued a Personal Identification Number (PIN). Upon admission, detainees will also be asked to complete an Authorized Phone Numbers Form, listing the phone numbers they wish to call with their PIN. Detainees will be allowed to call only these numbers with their PIN. These numbers should include attorney and family members, etc. Requests to change any of these numbers must be submitted in writing, with justification for the change, to the Supervisory Detention and Deportation Officer (SDDO). Phone calls may be limited during peak usage periods. The telephones are available for use from 7 s.m. - 11:20 p.m., 7 days a week, excluding count times.

All calls made from the detainee phone system are subject to monitoring. In case of a verified emergency, access to telephones will be available. Routine telephone calls to attorneys are not considered to be emergencies.

Consular and Attorney Phone Calls:

As a non-U.S. citizen who is being arrested or detained, they are entitled to notify their country’s consular representatives here in the United States. A consular official may be able to help detainees obtain legal counsel, and they may contact the detainee’s family. If detainees want the Facility to notify their country’s consular officials, they can request this notification at any time with their deportation officer. After the detainees consular officials are notified, they may call or visit the detainee.

A listing of free consular phone numbers is posted in each housing unit.

Detainees are responsible for listing attorney numbers on the Authorized Phone Numbers Form.

Calling a Detainee:

If a family member needs to contact a detainee, a message system has been set up. This is an answering machine only. Family members should call (585) 343-0814, and follow the instructions to leave a message. The messages are checked twice daily and forwarded to the detainees.

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