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Immigrant legal groups sue over reported ICE policy concealing detainee locations

Immigrant legal services groups filed suit in Boston; ICE and DHS have not publicly confirmed the change.

Updated Oct 29, 2026 · 02:24 UTC2 reports

The short version

  • Immigrant legal services groups sued in federal court in Boston, arguing the policy violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the First Amendment.[ABC News · Associated Press]
  • The reported policy removes detainees with final removal orders from ICE's online locator and tells staff not to reveal their whereabouts.[Associated Press]
  • As of last month, the change affected more than 16,000 of nearly 69,000 people in ICE custody.[Associated Press]
  • ICE and DHS have not publicly confirmed the change; the agencies deny disappearing detainees and say they can still make calls.[Associated Press]

Key facts

  • Immigrant legal services groups filed a federal lawsuit in Boston on Wednesday seeking to stop the policy of hiding detainee locations.[ABC News · Associated Press]
  • The policy removes the locations of people with final removal orders from ICE's Online Detainee Locator System and instructs staff not to reveal their whereabouts.[ABC News · Associated Press]
  • As of last month, the policy affected more than 16,000 of nearly 69,000 detainees in ICE custody.[ABC News · Associated Press]
  • The lawsuit argues the policy violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the First Amendment.[ABC News · Associated Press]
  • ICE and DHS have not publicly confirmed the change but say they are prioritizing people with final removal orders for deportation.[Associated Press]
  • The agencies deny disappearing detainees and say detainees remain free to make phone calls.[Associated Press]

What remains uncertain

  • ICE and DHS have not publicly confirmed the policy change, so its exact scope has not been independently verified.[ABC News · Associated Press]
  • The legal claims are allegations by the plaintiffs, and the reporting includes no court ruling on their merits.[Associated Press]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.