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Deportation and Removal Defense
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An ICE detainer — also called an immigration hold — is a request from Immigration and Customs Enforcement to a local jail to hold a person beyond their scheduled release so ICE can take custody. For immigrants in Texas, an ICE detainer can transform a minor legal matter into an immediate deportation threat. Understanding what a detainer means, your rights, and how to respond quickly is critical.
Attorney Olsa Alikaj-Cano at Cano Immigration, PLLC regularly represents individuals held on ICE detainers in Texas. She advises families on how to respond quickly — including through emergency bond proceedings when detention follows a detainer. Clients may also qualify for release on parole by ICE in cases where standard bond is unavailable.
An ICE detainer (Form I-247A) is not a criminal warrant — it is a civil administrative request asking local law enforcement to hold an individual up to 48 additional hours beyond scheduled release. ICE uses this window to assume custody. Detainers are issued when ICE believes a detained person is a removable non-citizen — triggered by a criminal arrest, database match, or cooperation through ICE’s 287(g) program. Texas jurisdictions generally cooperate with ICE detainer requests, making the window for legal intervention especially narrow.
If ICE assumes custody, the person is typically transferred to an immigration detention facility. In Texas this commonly means Port Isabel, the Houston Contract Detention Facility, or another regional facility. Once in immigration detention, formal removal proceedings begin. Every detained person has the right to request a bond hearing, be represented by an attorney at their own expense, contest removal proceedings, and apply for any applicable relief including asylum.
A bond hearing gives a detained person the opportunity to request release while their case proceeds. Having Attorney Alikaj-Cano present with documentation of family ties, employment history, community involvement, and length of U.S. residence significantly improves the chances of a reasonable bond. Cases involving crimmigration issues require especially careful bond hearing preparation. Those who cannot secure bond may also explore waivers and other relief mechanisms alongside the detention response.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is a local jail required to honor an ICE detainer? | Not legally, but Texas jurisdictions generally cooperate. The window for intervention is narrow — contact an attorney immediately. |
| Can an ICE detainer be challenged? | Yes. An attorney can challenge the legal basis for the detainer and fight the underlying removal case in immigration court. |
| How long can ICE hold someone after a detainer? | The initial detainer allows 48 hours beyond scheduled release. After ICE assumes custody, detention continues until bond is obtained or the case concludes. |
| What if my family member is in a Texas ICE facility right now? | Call Cano Immigration immediately. Attorney Alikaj-Cano handles emergency detainer and detention situations and moves quickly on bond hearings. |
An ICE detainer demands an immediate response. Cano Immigration, PLLC handles emergency deportation defense and bond hearings throughout Houston and Texas. Call (713) 974-8944 now or use the contact page.
Cano Immigration, PLLC is a full-service immigration law firm in Houston, Texas. Attorney Olsa Alikaj-Cano specializes in emergency detention defense, ICE detainers, bond hearings, and all aspects of removal proceedings throughout Texas.
Full-Service Immigration Law Firm, Focusing on Deportation & Removal Defense
For the Experience and Expertise, You Need, Schedule Your Consultation: 832.288.2727 Or please fill in the form on the left to get in touch with Cano Immigration, PLLC.