---
title: "ICE stops revealing locations of thousands of detainees"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/ice-stops-revealing-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/ice-stops-revealing-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/ice-stops-revealing-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/ice-stops-revealing-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees"
category: "Politics"
area: "United States"
published: "2026-09-21T23:45:31.044Z"
source_reported: "2026-09-21T22:40:14.000Z"
updated: "2026-09-22T00:30:09.448Z"
trust_score: 42
critic_score: 57
hype_score: 41
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-09-22T01:48:29.759Z"
---

# ICE stops revealing locations of thousands of detainees

*The agency removed detainees with final deportation orders from its online locator system.*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named officials and ICE data, with two independent outlets cited.
- Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. Reporting includes quotes from affected parties and names specific figures, dates, and places.
- Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headline promises an exclusive, but the body of the report is largely a digest of another outlet's work.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has stopped publicly listing the locations of thousands of detainees who have final deportation orders.
- This change, which was not announced by the agency, makes it more difficult for lawyers and relatives to find these individuals.
- Nearly 16,000 people arrested and booked into ICE detention in July were subject to final removal orders.
- The practice does not apply to detainees at facilities in Adelanto, California, or temporary holding sites in Minneapolis, New York City, and suburban Chicago.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has ceased publicly disclosing the whereabouts of thousands of detainees who have received final orders for deportation. This unannounced policy shift, confirmed by current and former officials, has significantly complicated efforts by lawyers and family members to locate these individuals. The agency removed these detainees from its online locator system on September 15, according to three officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. Several immigration lawyers reported that their clients had disappeared from the system.

The move affects individuals with final removal orders, meaning an immigration judge has ordered their deportation after a hearing, and the decision was upheld on appeal or not appealed. Nearly 16,000 individuals arrested and booked into ICE detention in July were subject to such orders, representing more than a third of all bookings that month, according to data obtained by the Deportation Data Project. The practice does not extend to detainees held at facilities in Adelanto, California, or temporary holding facilities in Minneapolis, New York City, or suburban Chicago, where judges have ordered prompt listing in the online locator.

ICE did not publicize the change and, in a statement to the Associated Press, did not confirm or deny it, stating only that detainees with final removal orders were being prioritized for deportation. Immigration lawyers expressed concern that the lack of information hinders their ability to contact clients and potentially interferes with the attorney-client relationship. Greg Chen, senior director of government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, noted that families are distressed, fearing deportation when they cannot locate loved ones. Michelle Mendez, legal director at the National Immigration Project, described the action as another way of 'disappearing people'.

## Disagreement on the reason for the change

The Washington Top News report states the change "highlights the hardline nature of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, leaving thousands of detainees exceedingly hard to trace and potentially unable to exercise all of their legal options." It also suggests the practice "could speed deportations by making last-minute legal challenges harder to pursue." In contrast, the Clarin report mentions that the unannounced measure "complicates last-minute legal challenges and raises concerns about due process."

## What the coverage left out

None of the left, centre, or right-rated digests mention the specific date, September 15, when ICE removed detainees from its online locator system, a detail present in the Washington Top News full report. Additionally, none of the right-rated digests mention the specific number of people arrested and booked into ICE detention in July who were subject to final removal orders, a figure of nearly 16,000 reported by Washington Top News.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 54 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 54% (29)
- Centre: 35% (19)
- Right: 11% (6)

5 of 59 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-22T01:48:29.759Z.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 8 times; 1 check found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-22T02:00:19.095Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- Left-rated reports led on the fact that ICE stopped publicly revealing the locations of thousands of detainees with final deportation orders, making it harder for lawyers and relatives to find them. Several reports highlighted that the move makes it "nearly impossible" for families and attorneys to find loved ones and clients, as stated by Raw Story. The Los Angeles Times report noted this represents a "stark departure from previous practice and highlights the hardline nature of President Trump's immigration crackdown." Joe.My.God. used the headline "ICE Hides Locations Of Thousands Of Detainees," and The Seattle Times reported that the move "makes it harder for lawyers and relatives to find them."

### Centre

- Centre-rated reports focused on ICE ceasing to publicly reveal the locations of thousands of detainees with final deportation orders, making it harder for lawyers and relatives to find them. Washington Top News, in its full report, detailed how the change makes it "far more difficult for lawyers and relatives to find them." OPB and Daily Record reported that ICE stopped publicly revealing the locations of "most" detainees subject to final deportation orders. WISH-TV noted that ICE "quietly removed the names of those detainees" from its system.

### Right

- Right-rated reports highlighted that ICE has stopped publicly disclosing the locations of thousands of detainees with final deportation orders, making it more difficult for lawyers and family members to locate them. Globo's headline stated, "ICE Hides Location of Thousands of Detainees with Definitive Order of Deportation." Clarin reported that the ICE "stopped updating its detention tracing system with final expulsion orders, making it difficult for lawyers and family members to trace."

**Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- mixed: 3
- high: 20
- unknown: 6
- veryHigh: 30

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [The CSR Journal](https://thecsrjournal.in/ice-stops-public-disclosure-of-detainee-locations-amid-deportation-concerns) — ICE Stops Public Disclosure of Detainee Locations Amid Deportation Concerns
- [The Washington Post](https://washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/09/21/immigrants-with-final-deportation-orders-disappear-ice-detainee-locator) — Immigrants with final deportation orders disappear from ICE detainee locator
- [Felix Victorino](https://fvdigital.do/ice-deja-de-mostrar-en-su-sistema-a-miles-de-detenidos-con-ordenes-finales-de-deportacion) — ICE Stops Showing in Its System Thousands of Detainees with Final Deportation Orders
- [India Today](https://indiatoday.in/world/story/ice-detainee-locator-final-removal-order-detainees-hidden-lawyers-fear-faster-deportations-ptag-2999926-2026-09-22) — ICE hides detainee locations as deportation drive raises due process fears
- [divergentes.com](https://divergentes.com/ice-retira-localizador-migrantes-dificultar-defensa-deportacion) — ICE Withdraws Locator Thousands of Migrants to Make It Difficult for Them to Defend Themselves Against Deportation
- [Chicago Tribune](https://chicagotribune.com/2026/09/21/ice-locations-detainees-hidden-removal-orders) — ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders, sources
- [Raw Story](https://rawstory.com/ice-2677908788) — ICE makes 16K detainees vanish from its own system: 'Families are freaking out'
- [Daily Record](https://dailyrecordnews.com/ap_news/us/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders/article_3a2653b0-767f-5608-a9cc-8a022505f483.html) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [Beloit Daily News](https://beloitdailynews.com/news/national-news/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders/article_959ad320-4ba0-5b4d-86c3-7958dc3d71f5.html) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [Joe.My.God.](https://joemygod.com/2026/09/ap-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees) — ICE Hides Locations Of Thousands Of Detainees
- [Conexión Migrante](https://conexionmigrante.com/2026-/09-/21/imposible-encontrar-a-migrantes-detenidos-por-ice-en-algunos-casos) — Unable to Find Detained Migrants if They Have a Deportation Order; ICE Hides Their Information
- [Globo](https://valor.globo.com/mundo/noticia/2026/09/21/ice-oculta-localizacao-de-milhares-de-detidos-com-ordem-definitiva-de-deportacao.ghtml) — ICE Hides Location of Thousands of Detainees with Definitive Order of Deportation
- [OPB](https://opb.org/article/2026/09/21/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [NBC New York](https://nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/ice-hides-locations-detainees-final-removal-orders/6550365) — ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders: AP exclusive
- [NBC Boston](https://nbcboston.com/news/national-international/ice-hides-locations-detainees-final-removal-orders/4018316) — ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders: AP exclusive
- [NBC Connecticut](https://nbcconnecticut.com/news/national-international/ice-hides-locations-detainees-final-removal-orders/3777143) — ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders: AP exclusive
- [NBC Miami](https://nbcmiami.com/news/national-international/ice-hides-locations-detainees-final-removal-orders/3862274) — ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders: AP exclusive
- [NBC Philadelphia](https://nbcphiladelphia.com/news/national-international/ice-hides-locations-detainees-final-removal-orders/4466956) — ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders: AP exclusive
- [theGrio](https://thegrio.com/2026/09/21/ice-detainee-locator-final-removal-orders) — ICE removes thousands of detainees with final deportation orders from online locator
- [HuffPost](https://huffpost.com/entry/immigration-ice-finding-detainees_n_6ab16e19e4b043d6b567947f) — ICE Hides Locations Of Thousands Of Detainees With Final Removal Orders
- [NBC Dallas-Fort Worth](https://nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/ice-hides-locations-detainees-final-removal-orders/4080473) — ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders: AP exclusive
- [NBC Chicago](https://nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/ice-hides-locations-detainees-final-removal-orders/3991884) — ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders: AP exclusive
- [Clarin](https://clarin.com/estados-unidos/exclusiva-ap-el-ice-oculta-ubicacion-de-miles-de-detenidos-con-orden-final-de-deportacion_0_o4LYntPCl9.html) — Exclusive ICE Hides Location of Thousands of Detainees with Final Deportation Order
- [Independent Español](https://independentespanol.com/noticias/america-latina/exclusiva-ap-el-ice-oculta-ubicacion-de-miles-de-detenidos-con-orden-final-de-deportacion-b3053804.html) — Exclusive ICE Hides Location of Thousands of Detainees with Final Deportation Order
- [WISH-TV](https://wishtv.com/news/politics/immigration-lawyers-struggle-to-locate-clients-after-ice-removes-names-from-site) — Immigration lawyers struggle to locate clients after ICE removes names from site
- [My Mother Lode](https://mymotherlode.com/news/national/11157208/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders.html) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [Los Angeles Times](https://latimes.com/world-nation/story/2026-09-21/ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders) — ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [The Record](https://troyrecord.com/2026/09/21/ice-hides-locations-detainees) — ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [WBAL](https://wbal.com/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final
- [Washington Top News](https://wtop.com/national/2026/09/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders – WTOP News
- [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/united-states/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders/article_db810273-98b2-5aa8-ac38-ac5e83680f5d.html) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/exclusive-lawyers-donald-trump-department-of-homeland-security-families-b3053776.html) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/ice-detainee-locator-disappear-removal-orders-c3329a70bce424879bc5880b286c019c) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [MY Northwest](https://mynorthwest.com/national/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders/4278317) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [WPLG](https://local10.com/news/national/2026/09/21/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [WKMG](https://clickorlando.com/news/national/2026/09/21/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [KOB 4](https://kob.com/ap-top-news/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [Bangor Daily News](https://bangordailynews.com/2026/09/21/nation/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/exclusive-lawyers-donald-trump-department-of-homeland-security-families-b3053776.html) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [Rutland Herald](https://rutlandherald.com/ap/national/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders/article_28257741-4baf-55f7-97e6-14fdd02b1a99.html) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [The Daily Advance](https://dailyadvance.com/news/national/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders/article_8b743334-df3c-5b9c-8b01-7bb125a9d40d.html) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [The Northern Virginia Daily](https://nvdaily.com/associated_press_national/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders/article_d60e089c-e225-595d-b3c0-d480fae064b2.html) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [Hometown News LP](https://hngnews.com/nation_world/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders/article_4b0e5b02-4d48-5ee0-be4e-7e46a66d9938.html) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [The Daily Star](https://thedailystar.com/news/national/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders/article_bc5f436d-b823-5d91-8615-5b1b4dfbb0c7.html) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [Cherokee Tribune Ledger News](https://tribuneledgernews.com/local_news/state_and_national/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders/article_9f3049f1-07f9-58ae-8062-8f2a09857027.html) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [The Batesville Daily Guard](https://guardonline.com/news/national/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders/article_9c237352-a754-5bb5-8044-d6a1ddf065cc.html) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [Action News Now](https://actionnewsnow.com/news/national/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders/article_7a9e9d63-9d0f-5af8-8994-4e784c809490.html) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [NBC LA](https://nbclosangeles.com/news/national-international/ice-hides-locations-detainees-final-removal-orders/3945284) — ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders: AP exclusive
- [NBC Bay Area](https://nbcbayarea.com/news/national-international/ice-hides-locations-detainees-final-removal-orders/4146405) — ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders: AP exclusive
- [MPR News](https://mprnews.org/story/2026/09/21/ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders) — ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [Houston Public Media](https://houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/immigration/2026/09/21/562357/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [The Record](https://therecord.com/news/world/united-states/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders/article_caf0182b-95cd-5c0e-9804-68d67c850ea0.html) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [Political Wire](https://politicalwire.com/2026/09/21/immigrants-with-final-deportation-orders-disappear) — Immigrants with Final Deportation Orders Disappear
- [The New Republic](https://newrepublic.com/post/215672/ice-detainees-vanish-system) — ICE Just Made Thousands of Detainees Vanish From Its System
- [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/09/21/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [The Columbian](https://columbian.com/news/2026/sep/21/ap-sources-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders) — AP sources: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [Durango Herald](https://durangoherald.com/articles/associated-press/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
- [Breitbart](https://breitbart.com/news/ap-exclusive-ice-hides-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees-with-final-removal-orders) — AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders

## Questions

**What has U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement changed regarding detainee locations?**

ICE has stopped publicly revealing the locations of thousands of detainees who have final deportation orders. These individuals have been removed from the agency's online locator system, making it significantly harder for their lawyers and relatives to find them.

**How many detainees are affected by this change?**

Nearly 16,000 people who were arrested and booked into ICE detention in July were subject to final removal orders. This number represents more than a third of all bookings for that month, according to data obtained by the Deportation Data Project.

**Are there any exceptions to this new policy?**

Yes, the practice does not apply to detainees held at facilities in Adelanto, California, or at temporary holding facilities in Minneapolis, New York City, or suburban Chicago. Judges have ordered ICE to list detainees in these specific facilities in the online locator promptly.

**What has ICE said about this change?**

ICE did not publicize the move and, in a statement to the Associated Press, did not confirm or deny it. The agency stated that detainees with final removal orders were being prioritized for deportation.

---

MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/ice-stops-revealing-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "ICE stops revealing locations of thousands of detainees", https://mediabias.news/politics/ice-stops-revealing-locations-of-thousands-of-detainees