South Texas ICE Processing Center

The South Texas ICE Processing Center is a private ICE detention facility that is located in Pearsall, Texas. This facility is managed by The Geo Group and houses adult male, adult female, and juvenile detainees who are in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The South Texas ICE Processing Center can house a maximum of 1,900 detainees.

The ICE field office that supervises the South Texas ICE Processing Center is located in San Antonio, Texas. If you need information about an ICE detainee housed at the South Texas ICE Processing Center, call (210) 231-4505 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. 

Have the detainee's information ready when you call, including their full name (first, last, and hyphenated), any known aliases, date of birth, and country of birth.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting hours at South Texas ICE Processing Center are as follows:

Detainee Classification                              Daily Visitation Time
Level 1 & 2 Females                                    7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Level 1 & 2 Restricted Females                 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Level 3 Females                                           9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Level 1 & 2 Males                                         10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Level 3 Males                                                 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Level 3 Restricted Males                              4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Level 1 & 2 Restricted Males                       5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

General Rules

All visits are non-contact and may last a maximum of one hour. A maximum of two adults and two children may visit at any one time. To ensure adequate time to process visitors through security, all visitors should arrive 30 minutes prior to the scheduled visit time.

Adult visitors must have a valid, government-issued photo ID to enter the visiting room. Minors must be accompanied by an adult at all times. 

All visitors are subject to a pat-down search, an inspection of their belongings, and a metal scan search. Visitors are not allowed to carry any items into the visiting area, or give any items to detainees.

Attorney Visits

Attorneys and/or paralegals are allowed to visit detainees daily from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m., including holidays. Legal representatives may request video teleconference (VTC) meetings or confidential legal phone calls with their clients by email at [email protected]. The law library coordinator will email back with a confirmed date and time. 

The email should include:

• Legal representative’s full name
• Legal representative’s contact information, including phone number(s), email address, and Zoom meeting ID
• Detainee’s name
• Detainee’s alien number
• A few proposed times/dates for the requested visit
• A scan of the legal representative’s government issued identification
• A scan of the legal representative’s identification, such as a state bar card, attorney license, paralegal license, or similar legal status.
• A scan of the attorney’s DHS Form G-28 

Legal representatives may also schedule VTC meetings or calls by dialing (830) 334-2939 for the courtroom officer responsible for scheduling.

All appointments for VTC meetings should be made at least one day in advance. Appointments are scheduled 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily and are in 30 to 60-minute increments. 

Consular Visits

Consular officials are allowed to meet with their detained nationals at any time. If possible, arrangements should be made in advance by calling the ICE Supervisory Deportation officer at (210) 231-4505. All consular officials should bring appropriate credentials. 

Clergy Visits

Clergy are allowed to visit detainees housed at South Texas ICE Processing Center at any time. Arrangements should be made in advance through the chaplain's office.

You must include the detainee's name and alien number in the mailing address of all detainee mail. Also include your name and address in the envelope's "return address" section, or the mail will not be given to the detainee. Staff does not read incoming inmate mail, but they do check it for contraband.

Sending Packages

Detainees are not allowed to receive care packages. However, with the approval of the ICE Deportation Officer, they are allowed to receive items that are considered necessary for travel or release from agency custody. Before sending packages to detainees, contact the Facility Warden at:

GEO – South Texas Detention Complex Warden
P.O. Box 1248
Pearsall, TX  78061

Detainees who are being removed from the United States are allowed to have one small piece of luggage. If a detainee does not already have baggage, they may have one bag sent after receiving approval from the Supervisory Detention and Deportation Officer. 

Electronic devices (cell phones, electric razors, laptop computers, radios, etc.) cannot be included in the detainee's luggage for security reasons.

How to Call an Inmate

You can't call a detainee at South Texas ICE Processing Center. However, if you need to leave an urgent message you can call (830) 334-2939. The message should include the detainee's full name, the detainee's alien registration number, and a telephone number where you can be reached.

How to Send Money

To send money to a detainee at South Texas ICE Processing Center, mail a money order or cashier's check directly to the lockbox. Do not send cash. Deposits can be made into a detainee's account by mailing a cashier's check or money order to:

South Texas ICE Processing Center
Detainee Full Name and Alien Number
566 Veterans Drive
Pearsall, TX 78061
United States

To Post a Delivery Bond

When a detainee in ICE custody is placed into removal proceedings while they are in the United States, a delivery bond may be posted. When you post a delivery bond, you are required to show proof of identity.

Bonds for aliens detained by ICE can 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 for a delivery bond are money orders, cashier's checks, and certified checks. Payments must be made payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security” or “Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”

Programs For Inmates

Recreation yards are attached to all housing units. Dedicated space is provided for support services, including food service, a medical service area, and a central laundry.

Pictures of South Texas ICE Processing Center

Careers at South Texas ICE Processing Center

If you are interested in a career with GeoGroup/US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and would like more information about job openings at South Texas ICE Processing Center, click here.