updated 2/28/2018

Buffalo Federal Detention Facility is located at 4250 Federal Drive, Batavia, New York 14020 and it is where male individuals are housed after being placed in immigration custody.  Many are brought there after being apprehended in Texas.

There is parking available and the facility is ADA compliant.

Visiting Hours

Friends and Family Visits

Mondays through Fridays: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., 1 p.m. – 3 p.m., 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Saturdays and Sundays: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

All visitors must be checked in by 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. respectively.

Visitors must present a valid verifiable government-issued identification card to enter the facility.  Visits shall not exceed 1 hour.

An adult guardian (18 years or older) must accompany each minor child at all times. One adult per child, 4 children maximum. Minors must not be left unaccompanied in the waiting room, visiting room or any other area.

NO CHILDREN UNDER 10 ARE ALLOWED IN COURT.

Consular Visits

Consular officials may meet with their detained nationals at any time. It is requested that prior arrangements be made with the ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer to the extent possible, and that consular officials bring appropriate credentials when they come to the facility. The ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer in charge of the facility can be reached at (585) 343-0814.

Clergy Visits

Clergy may visit detainees at any time, but must make prior arrangements with the Chaplain’s Office at (585) 343-0814.

Visiting Restrictions

1. All family or other social visits are non-contact.

2. No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted in the facility.

3. If visitors are or appear to be intoxicated, visitation will not be allowed.

4. All visitors are subject to search while in the facility.

5. Visitors are not allowed to pass or attempt to pass any items to detainees.

6. Visitors are not allowed to carry any items into the visitation area.

Search Procedures (prior to or during family or attorney visitations)

All individuals requesting admittance to the facility or the visitation area are subject to a pat-down search of their person, an inspection of their belongings, and a metal scan search. Individuals refusing to cooperate with a reasonable search will not be admitted. No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted. No electronic devices (cell phones, pagers, radios, etc.) are permitted in the secure areas of this facility.

Contacting Us

If you need information about a detainee that is housed at this facility, you may call (585) 343-0814 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. When you call, please have the individual’s biographical information ready, including first, last and hyphenated names, any aliases he or she may use, date of birth and country of birth.

If you need to get in touch with a detainee you must call (585) 343-0814 and leave the detainee’s full name, alien registration number and a telephone number where you can be reached. He or she will be given your message.

Sending Mail

Letters sent to detainees must include the detainee’s A-number (File Number), facility ID number, plus the sender’s name and address. To enhance the safety of the facility, all incoming mail is subject to screening for contraband. The mail is not read upon opening, only inspected by the delivering officer. Detainees may send mail from the facility. Detainees may seal their outgoing letters and place them in the provided receptacle. All

incoming mail will be delivered to the detainee, and outgoing mail will be routed to the proper postal office within 24 hours of receipt by facility staff. A mail pick-up and delivery schedule is posted in all housing units.

Detainees are allowed to purchase stamps for use. Generally, there is no limit to the amount of correspondence detainees may send at their own expense. Indigent detainees (those who have no means of financial support and no funds in their facility account) will be provided postage allowance at government expense.

When detainees depart the facility or are transferred to another facility, only their legal mail will be forwarded to them. General correspondence will be endorsed "Return to Sender" and returned to the post office.

Sending Money

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.

Sending Packages

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 Deportation Officer at the facility at (585) 343-0814

Note that detainees being removed from the United States are allowed one small piece of luggage. If a detainee does not have such baggage, such luggage can be sent/delivered after receiving approval from Supervisory Deportation Officer. Please be advised that for security reasons, no electronic devices (cell phones, electric razors, laptop computers, radios, etc.) will be accepted.

Calling a Detainee

Detainees cannot receive incoming calls. If you need to get in touch with a detainee to leave an urgent message, you must call (585) 343-0814 and leave the detainee’s full name, alien registration number and your name and telephone number where you can be reached. The detainee will be given your message.