Prairieland TX Detention Center Inmate Search & Info
Prairieland Detention Center Texas: Find a Detainee and Handle the Next Steps
Prairieland in Alvarado is an ICE immigration detention facility, not a Texas county jail. Use ICE’s detainee locator first, then check the immigration case, bond, visitation, communication, mail or legal-access process.
Prairieland Detention Center Texas Quick Information
ICE’s official name is Prairieland Detention Facility. It is located south of the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Alvarado, Johnson County, Texas.
Alvarado, TX 76009
Field Office: 972-367-2200.
Adult ICE detainees, not a county jail population.
Who Operates Prairieland Detention Center in Texas?
ICE inspection records identify the City of Alvarado as the facility owner and LaSalle Corrections as the operator. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations oversees federal immigration custody through ERO Dallas.
ICE controls immigration detention and removal custody.
Handles day-to-day contracted facility operations.
Identified in ICE’s December 2024 oversight report.
ICE’s December 2024 inspection says Prairieland houses adult men and women across low through high security classifications for periods longer than 72 hours.
How to Search for Someone at Prairieland Detention Center
Do not search a Texas county jail roster for a person in ICE custody. Prairieland detainees are located through ICE’s federal Online Detainee Locator System.
Open the ICE detainee locator
The locator is available online 24 hours a day and supports multiple languages.
Use the A-Number when you have it
The strongest search uses the person’s Alien Registration Number plus country of birth.
Make an 8-digit A-Number nine digits
Add a zero to the beginning if the number contains only eight digits.
Otherwise search the exact legal name
Use the first name, last name and country of birth exactly as they appear in ICE records.
Confirm the detention location
Look for Prairieland rather than assuming the person remains at a facility mentioned in older paperwork.
Why the ICE Search May Return No Result
ICE’s locator uses strict identity matching. A small spelling difference can prevent the correct record from appearing.
- Try the exact legal spelling.
- Include a hyphenated surname exactly.
- Check the person’s country of birth.
- Use the A-Number when possible.
- Add a leading zero to an 8-digit A-Number.
- Do not use ODLS for a person under 18.
Can’t Find the Person? Use This Escalation Path
A missing locator result does not automatically mean release. The person may still be processing, transferred or recorded under slightly different identifying information.
Have the first and last name, aliases, date of birth and country of birth ready.
Use ICE’s Detainee Reporting and Information Line when the location remains unresolved.
You Found the Detainee. What Should You Do Next?
This is the most useful identifier for ICE and immigration-court tasks.
Use EOIR rather than assuming the detention location tells you the court.
Immigration bond is different from Texas criminal bail.
Detainees cannot receive ordinary incoming calls.
Friends and family visits require advance arrangements.
Removal proceedings can have serious immigration consequences.
Which Immigration Court Handles a Prairieland Case?
Do not assume “Dallas Field Office” means the hearing is automatically at Dallas Immigration Court. ICE custody administration and EOIR court assignment are separate systems.
EOIR’s current administrative-control listing references Prairieland detained matters in its Texas court-routing structure, but the safest source for a specific detainee is EOIR Automated Case Information and the official hearing notice.
Get the A-Number
Use the number from ICE records or the detainee’s immigration paperwork.
Open EOIR Automated Case Information
Enter the A-Number to check available immigration-court information.
Read the hearing information
Check the date, time, court location and available case decision information.
Use the hearing notice if anything conflicts
The official court notice controls over a general detention-facility assumption.
Prairieland Immigration Bond
Immigration detention bond is a federal immigration process. It is not the same as posting bail in a Texas county criminal case.
Not every person in ICE custody is eligible for an immigration bond.
Use current ICE or case information rather than older paperwork.
Use only the current federal delivery-bond process.
Do not transfer bond money to an unsolicited caller or unverified payment recipient claiming to represent ICE or the detention center.
Prairieland Texas Visitation Schedule
Friends and family visits must be scheduled in advance. The visit day depends on the detainee’s security classification.
| Classification | Day | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Low / Medium Low | Monday & Wednesday | 8:00 AM–12:30 PM and 1:00–6:00 PM |
| High / Medium High | Tuesday & Thursday | 8:00 AM–12:30 PM and 1:00–6:00 PM |
| Female Low / Medium Low | Friday | 8:00 AM–12:30 PM and 1:00–6:00 PM |
| Female High / Medium High | Saturday | 8:00 AM–12:30 PM and 1:00–6:00 PM |
| Special Visits | Sunday | 8:00 AM–12:30 PM and 1:00–6:00 PM |
What visitors need to know
- Adults need valid government-issued identification.
- Minors must stay with an adult guardian.
- Visitors are subject to security screening.
- No weapons are permitted.
- No phones or electronics in secure areas.
- No items may be passed to detainees.
ICE describes family/social visitation as contact visitation. A visitor who appears intoxicated or refuses a reasonable search will not be admitted.
ICE warns that visitation schedules can change because of security or operational conditions.
Phone Calls, Urgent Messages and GettingOut
Prairieland detainees cannot receive normal incoming calls. Family members can still contact the facility when an urgent message needs to be delivered.
The detainee must use the facility’s outbound communication system.
ICE identifies GettingOut for non-confidential electronic messages.
For an urgent message, have:
- Detainee’s full name
- A-Number
- Your full name
- Your callback phone number
How to Send Mail to Prairieland Detention Center
ICE allows detainees to receive correspondence. The mailing information must identify the correct detainee and include the sender’s return information.
Alvarado, TX 76009
Include:
- Detainee’s full name
- Last four digits of the A-Number
- Sender’s full name
- Sender’s return address
ICE says incoming mail is inspected for contraband but is not read during opening inspection. Outgoing mail is routed to the postal service after facility processing.
ICE says legal mail is forwarded to the new location, while ordinary correspondence is generally returned to the sender.
Money, Packages and Travel Items
ICE says funds received through the mail are taken to processing and placed into the detainee’s account, with a receipt provided.
ICE specifically cautions detainees against having cash mailed to them.
Packages are different. Items needed for travel or release require prior approval from an ICE Deportation Officer.
Removal luggage
ICE allows a detainee being removed from the United States one small piece of luggage.
If the person has no baggage, one 40-pound bag may be sent or delivered after approval.
Electronics are not accepted
ICE lists cell phones, laptops, radios and electric razors among items that will not be accepted for security reasons.
Attorney Visits and Confidential Legal Access
Legal visitation has different rules from family visitation. In-person attorney visits do not require advance scheduling and are handled first come, first served.
ICE recommends arriving before 2:45 PM because facility count begins at 3:00 PM.
Published in-person legal-visitation hours.
Virtual attorney visits
Attorneys and accredited representatives request confidential video conferences or legal phone calls through ICE ERO eFile.
| Day | Appointment periods |
|---|---|
| Monday–Friday | 8:00–9:00 AM and 10:00 AM–5:00 PM |
| Weekends | 8:00 AM–12:00 PM |
Appointments may be requested up to two weeks ahead but no later than 24 hours before the appointment. ICE schedules them in 60-minute blocks.
Urgent Legal Documents Without Postal Delay
ICE provides an electronic legal-document route when timely communication by mail is not practical and facility approval requirements are met.
Legal representatives should clearly mark the subject and attachment as legal correspondence and include the detainee’s identifying information.
ICE says these legal electronic requests are processed during normal business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding holidays.
How to Find Immigration Legal Help in Texas
Immigration court does not automatically provide a government-paid attorney. A person may hire counsel, use an accredited representative or seek qualifying pro bono help.
DOJ Pro Bono List
EOIR maintains the official current list of organizations and attorneys offering qualifying free immigration legal services.
Avoid unauthorized representatives
EOIR warns that notarios and non-lawyer immigration consultants are not authorized to represent people before immigration courts unless properly accredited.
Transferred From Prairieland or No Longer Listed?
ICE detention is mobile. A person can be transferred between facilities, so an old address or attorney document may no longer show the current location.
Repeat the ICE locator search
Look for the facility currently associated with the detainee.
Call Prairieland
Ask whether staff can confirm a transfer or updated detention destination.
Use ICE DRIL if still unresolved
Call 1-888-351-4024 for ICE detainee information and detention concerns.
Recheck the immigration hearing
A facility transfer does not guarantee that the assigned court or hearing date changed.
What ICE’s Facility Inspection Confirms
ICE’s December 2024 Office of Detention Oversight report provides useful background that is not obvious from the public facility page.
ICE began housing detainees at Prairieland in 2017.
The facility operates under ICE Performance-Based National Detention Standards.
The inspection notes certification following a November 2023 PREA audit.
The report also identifies Correct Commissary as the commissary contractor at the time of the inspection. Vendor arrangements can change, so verify the current deposit method with the facility before sending funds.
How to Request ICE Records
A live detainee search and an ICE records request are different tasks. Use FOIA or the Privacy Act when you need agency records rather than a current location.
ICE asks for identifying details to help locate the requested record.
ICE’s facility page references Form G-639 or a written request for FOIA/Privacy Act records. Check the current ICE FOIA instructions before filing.
Report a Problem With Detention or Treatment
Family members and representatives have more than one escalation route when a facility concern cannot be resolved locally.
ICE also publishes the Dallas Field Office at 972-367-2200 for ERO oversight-related matters.
Driving to Prairieland Detention Center
The facility is in Alvarado, Texas, rather than central Dallas or Fort Worth. Schedule the visit before making the trip.
ICE says designated visitor parking spaces are marked.
ICE lists the facility as accessible for individuals with special needs.
Prairieland Detention Center Texas Map
Prairieland Detention Center is located at 1209 Sunflower Lane, Alvarado, TX 76009.
Do not drive to the facility for family visitation until you have scheduled and confirmed the visit.
Official Prairieland Texas Resources
Use these links when you need live custody data, court information, legal access or another official transaction.
Locate a person in current ICE detention.
Current contact, visitation, mail, legal-access, bond and complaint information.
Check the individual immigration case and assigned hearing information.
Current official immigration legal-service provider list.
Attorney G-28 filing and virtual legal-access requests.
Prairieland non-confidential tablet-message service identified by ICE.
Federal inspection and detention-standard records.
Prairieland Detention Center Texas FAQs
Where is Prairieland Detention Center in Texas?
Prairieland Detention Center is located at 1209 Sunflower Lane, Alvarado, TX 76009.
What is Prairieland Detention Center’s phone number?
ICE lists 817-409-3995. Detainee-information inquiries can be made to the facility 24 hours a day.
Is Prairieland Detention Center a Texas county jail?
No. Prairieland is an ICE immigration detention facility rather than a Johnson County or other Texas county jail.
How do I find someone detained at Prairieland?
Use ICE’s Online Detainee Locator System. Searching by the person’s A-Number and country of birth is usually the most precise method.
Can I search Prairieland inmates by name?
ICE allows biographical searches using the person’s exact first and last name plus country of birth. Date of birth can help distinguish similar results.
Why isn’t a detainee showing up in ICE search?
Check exact spelling, hyphens, country of birth and A-Number. You can also call Prairieland at 817-409-3995 or ICE DRIL at 1-888-351-4024.
Who operates Prairieland Detention Center?
ICE inspection records identify the City of Alvarado as owner and LaSalle Corrections as operator, with federal ICE oversight through ERO Dallas.
Does the Dallas Field Office mean the case is in Dallas Immigration Court?
Not necessarily. ICE field-office oversight and immigration-court assignment are separate. Use EOIR Automated Case Information and the official hearing notice to confirm the assigned court.
How do I check the detainee’s immigration court case?
Use EOIR Automated Case Information with the A-Number or call 1-800-898-7180.
Can EOIR’s automated system tell me about an immigration bond hearing?
The automated case system does not provide all bond-proceeding information. Contact the court or the detainee’s legal representative for a specific bond hearing.
How do I post an ICE bond for someone at Prairieland?
First verify that the person has a delivery bond and confirm the current amount. Then follow ICE’s current official bond-payment instructions.
How do I schedule a family visit?
ICE requires advance scheduling and currently directs visitors to email Pdcvisitation@lasallecorrections.com.
When can low-security detainees receive visits?
ICE currently lists Monday and Wednesday for Low and Medium Low classification visits, from 8 AM to 12:30 PM and 1 PM to 6 PM.
When are women’s visitation days?
ICE currently lists Friday for Female Low/Medium Low and Saturday for Female High/Medium High, using the same morning and afternoon visit periods.
Can children visit Prairieland?
Yes. Minors must remain accompanied by an adult guardian who is at least 18 years old.
Can I bring my phone into the secure visiting area?
No. ICE says phones and other electronic devices are not permitted in secure areas of the facility.
Can I call a detainee directly?
No ordinary incoming calls are available to detainees. The person must use the facility’s outbound communication system.
How do I leave an urgent message?
Call 817-409-3995 and provide the detainee’s full name and A-Number along with your name and callback number.
Does Prairieland use GettingOut?
Yes. ICE states that the facility has tablets and directs families to GettingOut for non-confidential electronic messaging information.
What address do I use for detainee mail?
ICE lists Prairieland Detention Center, 1209 Sunflower Lane, Alvarado, TX 76009. Include the detainee’s name, last four A-Number digits, and your return information.
Can I send cash to a Prairieland detainee?
ICE cautions against sending cash through the mail. Verify the currently approved account-funding method before sending money.
What happens to mail if the detainee is transferred?
ICE says legal mail is forwarded to the detainee, while ordinary correspondence is normally returned to the sender.
Can I send luggage or clothing?
Travel or release items require approval from an ICE Deportation Officer. A qualifying 40-pound bag may be accepted for removal travel after approval.
When can an attorney visit Prairieland?
ICE lists in-person legal visits Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM and weekends and holidays from 8 AM to noon.
How are virtual attorney visits scheduled?
Legal representatives request confidential video or phone appointments through ICE ERO eFile. Appointments generally must be requested at least 24 hours ahead.
How can an attorney contact the detainee’s Deportation Officer?
ICE publishes Dallas.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov. A valid Form G-28 must be on file before protected case information can be released.
Can an attorney email urgent legal documents?
ICE provides pdcprograms@lasallecorrections.com for qualifying legal correspondence. The message must include the required detainee and representative information.
How do I find free immigration legal help?
Use the Executive Office for Immigration Review’s current List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers rather than an unofficial attorney directory.
What should I do if the detainee was transferred?
Search ICE’s locator again, call Prairieland and use ICE DRIL at 1-888-351-4024 if the new location remains unclear.
Does Prairieland have free visitor parking?
Yes. ICE says free public parking is available and designated visitor parking is marked.
Is Prairieland accessible for visitors with disabilities?
ICE lists the facility as compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act for individuals with special needs.
How do I request ICE records about a detainee?
Use ICE’s FOIA or Privacy Act process. ICE publishes 1-866-633-1182 and ICE-FOIA@dhs.gov for records-request information.
How can I report mistreatment or another serious detention concern?
Start with the facility when appropriate. ICE also publishes 1-833-4ICE-OPR for its Office of Professional Responsibility and 1-800-323-8603 for the DHS Inspector General hotline.
Facility, detainee-search, visitation, court, legal access, mail, transfer, FOIA and complaint information was checked against ICE, EOIR and federal inspection resources.
Immigration custody, facility location, hearing assignments, visitation and service providers can change. Recheck live federal information before traveling or completing a time-sensitive transaction.
ICE and EOIR sources reviewedCountyDetentionCenter.org is an independent informational website. It is not operated by ICE, DHS, Prairieland Detention Facility, LaSalle Corrections or the City of Alvarado.
This page provides general informational guidance and is not legal advice. Immigration detention is a civil immigration-custody status and does not by itself establish criminal guilt.