FOIA Request Guidance

Step-By-Step ICE FOIA Request

Before You Start:

Use this step-by-step guide to set up an account on SecureRelease and request records from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency. If you have already created a SecureRelease account to request records from CBP, you do not need to create another account to request records from ICE.

  • To submit this request, you need to complete two steps: first, create an account (or use the community organization account) and second, fill out the request.
  • If you are setting up your own account, please begin at Step 1. If you are using an existing community organization account, please begin at Step 3.
  • If you need to set up your own account, you will need stable access to the internet for approximately 40 minutes, if you are using a community organization account, you will need stable access to the internet for approximately 30 minutes.
  • If you have an upcoming date to go to Immigration Court, you can ask for records faster. You will need to know the upcoming court date. Even if you do not know what documents you have or what documents you need, you can still submit a general request to locate your records following the steps below.

If you are a community organization you can either set up an account for each individual or set up an organizational account to use for each person. It may take ICE several months to respond to the request, which is completely normal given current processing times. The wait is worth it as the information you receive could be very important to your case.

  1. Go to this link. Scroll to the bottom of the page and select Request ICE records online, which is circled below.
  1. Select Create Account, which is circled below. Enter the email you regularly check, select a password, and then enter your phone number, first and last name, your street address, your zip code, city, state, and country of residence (USA.) If you are working with a community organization to help you get your documents, provide the organization’s email and phone number but still use your name, and address. Then click, Create Account, which is circled below on the second image.
  1. Then sign-in to your account using the email and password you provided while creating the account.
  1. Select the second option Password Only, circled below.
  1. Scroll to the bottom of the first page and click Next, circled below.
  1. On the following page, verify that the name, address, email address, and phone number provided are correct. Then click the drop down and select All Other, circled below. The click Confirm.
  1. In the box circled below, make sure to ask for Form I-213, I-220A and then type (and any other documents in ICE possession). For A#, fill in your A# if you know it.
  1. If you have any documents from if you were arrested by ICE, served a Notice to Appear, or an Order to Show Cause upload them here. It is fine if you do not have anything. Click Next.
  1. Most people are not charged a fee to get their own documents. However, you can also request a fee waiver by checking the box, Request Fee Waiver, circled below. In the box, write in the reasons you cannot afford a fee. Try and be specific such as I only earn $200 a month and my rent is $150 a month.
  1. Usually, these records take several months to arrive. You can ask for them to come faster if you are in one of two situations: Expedite Requested. It will generally take several months for the government to send you your records. You can only request the records faster if you meet one of the following criteria: After you have provided this information, complete the CAPTCHA and click Submit Request, circled below. Congratulations on requesting your records from ICE! This process may have been lengthy, but the information could be very important to your case. Good luck!
    • First, you can request records faster if you need them to prevent a threat to your life or safety. This means that you are about to be deported and you face harm if deported.
    • Second, you can request records faster if you need them to prevent an abuse by the court (known as a due process violation.) This means that you are about to be deported and you do not face harm.