The FirstHours Paper Commons · 06
What this makes

A list of names to try.

The detainee locator only finds a person if you type their name exactly the way a government employee typed it. One missing surname or one accent, and it comes back empty even though they are there.

Start with the spellings. Most searches fail there.

Build my list →
Names to try14 of 31
García Hernández, María Joséas you entered itNo
García, María Joséfirst last name onlyNo
Hernández, María Josésecond last name onlyNo
Garcia Hernandez, Maria Joseaccents removedNext
María José, García Hernándezfields swappedLater
The First HoursWork down the list

Print it · tick as you go · keep your place

How this site handles what you type
Tools

Start here, in this order

Each one takes a few minutes. Print as you go — people get transferred, and a search that worked yesterday can fail today.

  • Start here

    Name variations to try

    Builds a checklist of spellings from what you know — both surnames, each one alone, hyphenated, accents removed, first and last swapped. Work down it one at a time instead of trying four and giving up.

    Ready
  • Faster than a name

    Find the A-number

    Where the number appears on a work permit, a court notice, or an application receipt — and why a person may have more than one after years of paperwork. Searching by number is far more reliable than by name.

    In review
  • When the list runs out

    If nothing matches

    An empty result does not always mean an empty search. Some people are absent from the system by design rather than missing. This works out which case you are in and what to do next.

    In review
  • Print and keep

    Call log

    Date, who you spoke to, what they said, reference number. Transfers break searches, and a dated record of every call turns out to matter more than anyone expects.

    In review
  • You do not have to call

    Who can call on your behalf

    Being afraid to contact the agency yourself is reasonable. An attorney, an accredited representative, or a hotline volunteer can make the call instead, and many families prefer that.

    In review
  • After you find them

    How contact works

    People in detention cannot receive incoming calls — they call out. How phone accounts and commissary work, and how visitation is arranged. Practical mechanics only.

    In review
Limits

What this site will not do

These are deliberate, and naming them is part of being worth trusting.

  • We never run the searchNo server here queries anything on your behalf. That would create a record of who looked for whom, and we will not hold one.
  • No copy of the recordsWe keep no mirror or index of detainee data. A searchable copy is a surveillance tool no matter who builds it.
  • No case adviceNothing here covers bond, relief, or how much time anyone has. Those need a lawyer, and getting them wrong is not recoverable.
  • No promises about timingProcessing, transfers, and updates all vary. Anyone who gives you a confident timeline is guessing.