San Antonio Field Office
South Texas Detention Facility

About Us

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

Who Are We?

This is a service owned and operated 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 J. Pitts
Assistant Field Office Director: Johnny Luna
(210) 231-4505

Contractor / CDF Warden
Warden: Gary Gomez
Deputy Warden: Ray Castro
(830) 334-2939

Where Are We?

566 Veteran's Drive
Pearsall, Texas 78061
(830) 334-2939

Parking: Slots are available for visitor parking in front of facility. Parking for staff & EOIR are identified.

Accessibility for Individuals with Special Needs: There are parking spaces designated as special needs, door openers and all area to include restrooms are special needs accessible.

Hours and Visitations

Visiting Hours:

Saturday and Sunday, 8 am to 4 pm

OUT OF TOWN VISITORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL AHEAD FOR ANY CHANGE IN VISITATION SCHEDULES.

General Visitation:

Visitors must have a valid verifiable photo identification card.

Minors who are visiting the facility must be accompanied by an adult guardian (18 years or older). Children must not be left unaccompanied in the waiting room, visiting room or any other area. Any disruptive conduct on either party will result in the termination of the visit.

Attorney Visitation Hours: Legal visitation: daily 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Legal representatives of detainees are authorized to visit their clients every day from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Attorneys may visit detainees as described above (see "Attorney Visiting Hours") in order to determine whether an attorney/client relationship will be established. Return visits by an attorney for the purpose of legal consultation will require the filing of a G-28 with the court.

A list of pro bono (free) legal organizations is posted in all detainee housing units and other appropriate areas. The list is updated quarterly.

Consular Visits: Special/Consular visits: anytime as requested.

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 (210) 231-4505.

Clergy Visits:

Clergy may visit detainees at any time, but must make prior arrangements with the office of the ICE Assistant Field Office Director.  For information, the CDF Facility has the following religious services / programs available to detainees:  Catholic Services, ECCC Episcopal, Rutgers CCC Chinese Religious Services, Buddhist Religious Services, ECCC Bible Study, Islamic Services, Chinese Protestant Services, Catholic Service (Lumen Die), and Sri-Lankan Services (Church on Wheels).  Any other denominations wishing to hold services should contact the Facility Contract Warden in writing at the above address.

Visiting Restrictions:

• All family / social visits are non-contact.
• No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted in the facility.
• If visitors are or appear to be under the influence of alcohol or any drug, visitation will not be allowed.
• Visits will be limited to a duration of 1 hour, with a minimum of 30 minutes
  

  8 a.m. to 9 a.m. male (level 3) detainees only
  8 a.m. to 12 p.m. male detainees only
  
  1 p.m. to 2 p.m. female (level 3) detainees only
  1 p.m. to 5 p.m. female detainees only

• All visitors are subject to search.
• Visitors are not allowed to pass or attempt to pass any items to detainees.
• Children must be under control at all times.
• Please dress appropriately. The following is a list of unacceptable attire (but is notlimited to this list):
  
  • Shorts shall cover customarily covered areas of the anatomy, including the buttocks and crotch area, both when standing and sitting. Shorts no higher than mid-thigh comply. Short-shorts, jogging shorts, cut-offs, and other obviously inappropriate short garments are prohibited.
  • Skirts and dresses shall extend to mid-thigh, seated.
  • Slits in skirts and dresses shall rise no higher than mid-thigh, seated.
  • Sheer (see-through) clothing is prohibited.
  • The top of clothing shall be no lower than the underarm in the front and back. Bare midriffs and strapless tops, tube tops, and swimsuits are prohibited.
  • Shoes shall be worn at all times.
  • Gang “colors” and other gang displays are prohibited..
• Visitors are not allowed to chew gum in the facility.
• Visitors are not allowed to carry any items into the visitation area.
• If contraband such as drugs, alcohol, or weapons are found on any person, that person may be subject to prosecution.

Search Procedures:

All individuals requesting admittance to the facility or the visitation area are subject to a pat-down search of their person, an inspection of their belongings, and a metal scan search. Individuals refusing to cooperate with a reasonable search will not be admitted. No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted. No electronic devices (cell phones, pagers, radios, etc.) are permitted in the secure areas of this facility.  All detainees are required to submit to a search when visiting with their family members, friends, attorneys, paralegal, etc., prior to the start of the visit.  Detainees will also be subject to a pat-down search upon termination of their visit.

Contacting Us

Detention:

Many of the detainees held in the facility were taken into custody at one of the area’s surrounding airports and seaports / 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 (210) 231-4505 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 or her 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.

The only information you will receive is the detainee’s alien registration number.  In the event of a valid emergency and you need to get in touch with a detainee, call (830) 334-2939 and leave the detainee’s full name, alien registration number and a telephone number where you can be reached.  Information about the detainee will not be provided to the caller.  A message will be delivered to the detainee.

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:

Call 1-800- 898-7180.

Filing with the Immigration Court:
Office of the Immigration Judge
Executive Office for Immigration Review
800 Dolorosa Street, Suite 300
San Antonio, Texas  78207

Legal Help:

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

Press Information Office:

For press inquiries, please contact the ICE Public Affairs Officer in San Antonio, Texas, at (210) 321-2811.

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, Jay Sparks, Assistant Field Office Director, South Texas Detention Complex 566 Veteran’s Drive, Pearsall, Texas 78061.

If you feel that an ICE employee or a Contract / IGSA 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
8940 Fourwinds,
San Antonio Texas 78239

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:

Departure or Delivery 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 (210) 231-4505 and ask to speak to the Deportation Officer handling the case.  You must have the last name of the detainee and alien registration number before calling.

Commissary:

This facility provides a commissary service that allows detainees to purchase food items, hygiene products, telephone cards, postage and writing supplies to supplement what is issued to them. Detainees are limited to $50.00 per week for commissary items. A commissary order form can be obtained from the housing unit officer at any time. Completed order forms must be turned in to the housing unit officer no later than Tuesday at 4 p.m.Commissary orders will be processed and delivered on that Friday. Orders for phone cards (there is no limit on purchase amount) can be placed Mondays thru Thursdays, according to the posted 24 Hr. Building Schedule, by 7 a.m. and will be issued that same afternoon

Mail:

A postal allowance has been established at government expense for indigent detainees. Detainees will be permitted to mail a reasonable amount of mail each week, including five pieces of special correspondence and three pieces of general correspondence. The facility generally does not limit the amount of correspondence detainees may send at their own expense, except to protect public safety or facility security and order. All outgoing mail must have a return address with the detainee’s name, alien registration number, and complete address of the facility clearly written on the envelope.

Receiving Mail:

 Detainees may receive mail from anyone they know personally. The letter/mail must have detainee name and the detainee’s immigration number (File Number) plus the sender’s name and address. All incoming social and legal mail will be opened and inspected for contraband in the presence of the detainee. The mail is not read, only inspected by the delivering officer.  When a detainee departs the facility, his or her mail is endorsed, "Return to Sender", and then returned to the Post Office.

Medical Care:

The Contract facility is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with qualified medical staff of United States Division of Immigration Health Services (USDIHS). They are responsible for the medical services provided at the facility.  If a medical emergency arises that the USDIHS staff is unable to control or is beyond the scope of their practice, or the detainee is in need of more comprehensive care, the detainee will be referred to the nearest emergency medical facility.

Money:

Detainee Sending Money Out:

Detainees must obtain permission from the Warden to mail out funds. These are approved on a case by case basis and are to be limited to family emergencies.

Receiving Money:

Detainees may receive money orders or cashier checks in US Currency by mail or dropped off at the front desk during visitation. Detainees will be provided a receipt and the person dropping off money will also be provided a receipt.

Sending Packages:

Detainees may send personal property in their possession at time of processing, when property is declared to be excess baggage. The detainee must pay the postage for shipping all baggage.

Receiving Packages:

A detainee may receive items that are determined to be of necessity for the sole purpose of travel or release from agency custody with approval of the Contract Detention Facility Warden.  No items should be sent to a detainee without the Warden’s approval.  Hygiene items are not permitted from outside sources.  These are issued or purchased by the detainee at the facility.  Do not send magazines and photographs depicting nudity or explicit sexual acts.  Material offering training in martial arts, destructive device manufacturing, or similar devices is prohibited.  Any food items received will be confiscated and destroyed in the presence of the detainee.  Magazines and books can only be received from a publishing company, mailed directly to the detainee at the facility.  If a detainee was arrested without any property and will be removed from the United States, you may drop off one bag of luggage for him or her, weighing no more than 40 pounds.  A detainee arrested at an airport or seaport who already has baggage in excess of 40 pounds, will not be allowed any additional luggage.  Please be advised that for security reasons, no electronic devices (cell phones, electric razors, lap-top computers, radios, etc.) will be accepted.

Religious Services and Observances:

All detainees shall have access to religious resources, services, instruction and counseling on a voluntary basis. Detainees shall be afforded the greatest freedom and opportunity to pursue legitimate religious beliefs or practices within the constraints of safety and security requirements.  Services are provided by Chaplain at least once per week.  Schedules for religious services are posted at each housing unit. If a detainee requires religious services or privileges not provided, they must complete a detainee request form. Designated staff will consult with appropriate members of the religious community in assessing their request

Smoking:

This is a non-smoking facility. No cigarettes, tobacco, or smoking paraphernalia is allowed.

Telephone Calls:

Telephones are provided in each housing unit and booking areas for detainee use. Telephones are turned on at 6 a.m. and will remain on until lights out 10:30 p.m.  All telephone calls will be collect to the party receiving the call, unless the detainee purchases a calling card from the Commissary. Telephones are subject to being monitored. When telephone demand is high, detainees are expected to limit their calls to 10 minutes in length to allow others the opportunity to place calls. If they are unable to place calls from the telephone in their housing unit or you need to place an emergency call, such as an illness or death in the family; they may complete a detainee request form addressed to the Chaplain to access an alternate telephone. 

There is at least one Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) for detainees with hearing and/or speech disabilities, and for detainees wishing to communicate with parties that have such disabilities. Access to TDD equipment requires the detainee to submit a request to the Shift Supervisor.

Telephones are made available as necessary with adjustable volume for detainees with hearing impairments.

Consular and Attorney Phone Calls:

Detainees can call their consulates or embassies free of charge, as well as several pro bono (free) legal organizations.  Those numbers are updated as necessary and posted in housing areas.

Calling a Detainee:

Detainees cannot receive incoming calls.  Staff will take telephone messages from outside callers and deliver them to the housing units at least three (3) times a day.  Messages regarding an emergency will be delivered as soon as possible.

Making a Call:

To purchase calling cards from the Commissary, detainees must complete a "Detainee Phone Card Request.” Cards are distributed on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday according to the posted Building Schedule. The phones are located in the dormitories.  These cards may be used for all calls, local, national, and international long distance calls. The cost of the card will be deducted from the detainee personal account. Only facility purchased cards may be used in facility phones – detainees cannot use personal phone cards.  International, national and local collect calls may be made on these phones as well.