El Valle Detention Facility

El Valle Detention Facility is an ICE detention facility that houses those who are in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This facility is located in Raymondville, Texas, and has the capacity to house 1,000 detainees.

If you need information about a detainee housed at El Valle Detention Facility, you can call (956) 689-9999 between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. You will need to have the detainee's information ready, including full name, known aliases, date of birth, and country of birth.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting hours at El Valle Detention Facility are on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. To make sure there is adequate time to process visitors through security, you must arrive 30 minutes prior to the scheduled visit time. Visits will not exceed 30 minutes.

General Rules

All adult visitors must have a valid verifiable government-issued identification card to enter the El Valle Detention Facility.

Minors who are visiting the facility must be accompanied by an adult guardian (18 years or older). Minors must not be left unaccompanied in the waiting room, visiting room or any other area.

• All family or other social visits are non-contact.
• No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted in the facility.
• If visitors are or appear to be intoxicated, visitation will not be allowed.
• All visitors are subject to search while in the facility.
• Visitors are not allowed to pass or attempt to pass any items to detainees.
• Visitors are not allowed to carry any items into the visitation area.

All individuals going into the visitation area are subject to a pat-down search of their person, an inspection of their belongings, and a metal scan search. 

Individuals who refuse to cooperate with a reasonable search will not be admitted. No electronic devices (cell phones, pagers, radios, etc.) are permitted in the secure areas of this facility.

Other Visits

Attorney Visits
Attorneys and paralegals may visit detainees between 8:00 a.m and 9:00 pm, Monday through Sunday.

Consular Visits
Consular officials are allowed to meet with their detained nationals at any time.  Prior arrangements should be made with the ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer whenever possible. All consular officials should bring appropriate credentials. 

The ICE Supervisory Detention and Deportation Officer in charge of the facility can be reached at (956) 547-1700.

Clergy Visits
Clergy may visit detainees at any time, but must make prior arrangements with the Chaplain’s Office by calling (956) 689-5099.

Dress Code

Gang “colors” and other gang displays are prohibited. Shoes must be worn at all times by all persons except infants. Shorts must cover customarily covered areas of the anatomy, including the buttocks and crotch area, both when standing and sitting. 

Shorts no higher than mid-thigh are allowed. Short shorts, jogging shorts, cut-offs, and other obviously inappropriate short garments are prohibited.

Female Visitors Age 12 and Older:

• Skirts and dresses are allowed, but no shorter than mid-thigh when seated.
• Slits in skirts and dresses will not extend beyond mid-thigh when seated.
• Sheer (see-through) clothing is prohibited.
• Top clothing must be no lower than the underarm in the front and back. Bare midriffs, halter-tops, strapless tops, tube tops, or swimsuits are prohibited.

Male Visitors Age 12 and Older

• Shirts must be worn at all times. Muscle shirts, bare midriff shirts and sleeveless shirts are prohibited.

All mail sent to detainees must include the last four digits of their Alien number, plus the sender’s name and address. Staff does not read the mail upon opening. For safety reasons, all incoming mail is subject to screening for contraband. 

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 ICE Deportation Officer.  Before sending packages to detainees, contact the Mailroom at the facility at:

1601 Buffalo Dr, Raymondville, TX 78586
956-689-5099 ext. 148
[email protected]

Detainees who are being removed from the United States are allowed one small piece of luggage. This can be sent after getting approval from the Supervisory Deportation Officer. 

For security reasons, no electronic devices (cell phones, electric razors, laptop computers, radios, etc.) are accepted.

How to Call an Inmate

Detainees at El Valle Detention Facility cannot receive incoming calls. If you need to get in touch with a detainee you must call (956) 689-9999 and leave a message. 

Your message must include the detainee’s full name, alien registration number, and a telephone number where you can be reached.

How to Send Money

To deposit money into a detainee’s trust account at El Valle, send money orders or cashier’s checks only to:

El Valle Detention Facility
Detainee’s full name and A-number
1800 Industrial Drive
Raymondville, TX 78580
United States

If detainees receive funds in the mail, they will be taken to the processing area for the money to be placed into their account. The processing officer will provide a receipt for all funds received. Detainees are cautioned not to have cash sent to them in the mail.

To Post a Delivery Bond

Delivery bonds are posted when a person has been taken into ICE custody and placed into removal proceedings while in the United States. When posting a delivery bond, you must show proof of identity.

Bonds for aliens detained by ICE may be posted at ICE ERO bond acceptance offices nationwide, Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., local time. For a list of ICE ERO bond acceptance offices nearest you or for bond information, click here. You must have the last name of the detainee and their alien registration number before calling. 

Acceptable forms of payment are: money orders, cashier’s checks or certified checks. Payments must be made payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security” or “Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”

Programs For Inmates

Programs, courses, and activities at El Valle Detention Facility include adult basic education, Reading Horizons Elevate, HMH Buzz, Open Office applications, and Typing Master Pro.

Pictures of El Valle Detention Facility

Careers at El Valle Detention Facility

If you are interested in a career with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and would like more information about job openings at El Valle Detention Facility, click here.