Are you wondering how to find out if I have a deportation order? The most direct way, if your case went through immigration court, is to check EOIR’s official ACIS system using your A-Number. You can also call the automated system and, if you need to review the documents in your case file, request your ROP or the appropriate records through FOIA.
There is one important warning: if ACIS does not show a case or decision, that alone does not confirm that a deportation order never existed. EOIR states that the system does not display every case or all case information, and documents issued by the immigration court or the BIA are the official determinations.
Keep reading to learn how to check your legal situation step by step.
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How to Find Out if I Have a Deportation Order: Step by Step
If your case was before an immigration court, start with these three options. The first two allow you to check case information, while the third helps you review your case file when you need to know exactly what happened.
1. Check Your Case Online Through EOIR’s ACIS
The Department of Justice’s Automated Case Information System (ACIS) allows you to check hearings or court decisions.
This method is ideal for people who want to find out or check online whether they have a deportation order without having to call by phone.
In ACIS, enter your A-Number and nationality. If your A-Number has eight digits, EOIR’s current guidance states that you should enter a zero at the beginning to make it nine digits.
ACIS provides basic information about certain cases. If there is more than one case associated with the same A-Number, it displays the most recent primary case. For this reason, an empty or incomplete result does not confirm that no deportation order exists. Review the immigration court or BIA documents to determine the official decision.
2. Call EOIR’s Automated System
By phone:
- Call 1-800-898-7180.
- Enter your Alien Registration Number (A-Number).
The automated line provides a menu in English and Spanish and may provide information about your next hearing and certain immigration judge decisions. It does not contain every type of information in your case file.
If ACIS shows a decision that appears to order your removal, review the official document before assuming which legal remedy applies. At Curbelo Law, our attorneys can help you stop removal proceedings when an applicable legal option is available.
3. Request Your Case File: ROP or FOIA, as Applicable
If you changed your address, never received notices, or the information in ACIS is not enough to understand what happened, you may need to review your case file to determine which documents were sent, what address was listed in the case, and what the judge decided.
If you are a party to proceedings before EOIR, you can request a copy of your Record of Proceeding (ROP) directly from the immigration court or the BIA, depending on where the file is located. EOIR distinguishes this request from the FOIA process.
FOIA remains useful for requesting records from a federal agency when appropriate, but USCIS Form G-639 should not be treated as a general form for requesting a case file from EOIR, ICE, and USCIS alike.
If the case file shows an order entered in absentia, an attorney can evaluate whether there are grounds to file a motion to reopen your immigration case. The appropriate procedure and deadline depend on why the order was issued and how notice was provided.
Quick recommendations:
- Keep every immigration notice you receive.
- Keep your A-Number in a safe place.
- Do not leave the country without consulting an attorney if you discover a deportation order.
Documents That Can Be Confused With a Deportation Order
Not all deportation orders are the same, and not every court document means that a final removal order already exists. Identifying what you received can help you understand whether you need to review a hearing notice, a decision, or an in absentia order.
Notice to Appear and Hearing Notice
The Notice to Appear (NTA), Form I-862, contains the allegations and charges DHS uses to seek the initiation of removal proceedings. By itself, it is not a final deportation order.
The hearing notice tells you when and where you must appear before the immigration court. If you have one of these documents, use the A-Number to check ACIS and compare the result with the notices and decisions you received.
In Absentia Deportation Order
An in absentia order is issued when a person fails to attend a hearing before an immigration judge.
The judge makes a decision without hearing the person’s defense, resulting in an in absentia deportation order in the case record.
You may request that the case be reopened if you can show that your failure to appear was due to circumstances recognized by law, such as exceptional circumstances, lack of proper notice, or certain situations involving custody through no fault of your own.
For exceptional circumstances, the general rule is that the motion must be filed within 180 days of the order. When the basis is lack of proper notice or certain forms of custody through no fault of the person, EOIR states that the motion may be filed at any time.
Notice requires careful analysis. On September 3, 2026, the BIA held in Matter of DIJI that, for an in absentia hearing, sending the notice by regular mail to the most recent address provided by the person may be sufficient, even if that address was provided before the NTA.
For this reason, simply saying “I never received the letter” does not, by itself, resolve whether notice was legally sufficient.
Did you overstay a tourist visa in the United States and do not know what to do? Staying beyond your authorized period does not, by itself, prove that an immigration court has issued a deportation order.
What to Do if You Missed Your Hearing and Discover an In Absentia Order
Failing to appear before an immigration judge after receiving proper notice allows the court to issue an in absentia deportation order under section 240(b)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
Before filing a motion, review the hearing date, the addresses on record, the NTA, hearing notices, and any decision issued by the judge. The notice analysis may be critical following Matter of DIJI.
Motion to Rescind or Reopen the Case
There are specific grounds for asking an immigration judge to rescind an in absentia deportation order and reopen the proceedings. These include exceptional circumstances within the applicable deadline, lack of proper notice, and certain situations involving custody.
While the court considers a motion to rescind an in absentia order filed under the rules governing removal proceedings, removal is automatically stayed until the judge decides the motion. This automatic stay should not be generalized to all motions or appeals.
If the motion is granted, the proceedings are reinstated, and the person may present the case again and apply for any immigration relief for which they are eligible.
How to Appeal a Deportation Order to the BIA
If an immigration judge issues a deportation order, you may appeal certain decisions to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA).
This appeal allows a higher administrative body to review whether the judge made errors of fact or law when issuing the order.
- Form EOIR-26 must be received by the BIA within 30 calendar days after the immigration judge’s oral decision or the mailing of the written decision, as applicable.
- The BIA primarily reviews the existing record. It does not consider new evidence as part of the appeal. A filing that presents new evidence may, when appropriate, be treated as a motion to remand the matter.
- An in absentia order in removal proceedings is not challenged through an ordinary direct appeal to the BIA. EOIR states that rescission must be requested through a motion to reopen.
The BIA will send a notice with the deadline for submitting a legal brief explaining the errors made by the judge.
Check the deadline and file the appeal before the applicable period expires. Keep your mailing address current while the case is pending.
If you need a more detailed explanation of the process, see our guide on how to appeal an immigration decision.
How to Locate Someone Detained by Immigration
Knowing how to locate someone detained by immigration is crucial when a family member has been arrested by ICE or transferred to a detention facility.
ICE Online Detainee Locator
The ICE Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS) allows you to search for a person who is currently in ICE custody or who has been in CBP custody for more than 48 hours. It is not a search tool for all federal custody.
To use it, you can search using the person’s A-Number and country of birth, or the biographical information requested by the system. The A-Number must have nine digits. If it has fewer, add zeros at the beginning.
The system does not allow searches for records of individuals under 18 years old.
If you need specific information about minors, see our guide on how to find a minor detained by immigration.
Contacting Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO)
If the person does not appear in the system, they may not have been processed yet or may be in transit.
- In that situation, you should contact the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) office for the appropriate state or district directly.
- ERO personnel may confirm whether the person is in custody and provide information about their current location.
- ICE also operates the national Detention Reporting and Information Line (DRIL) at 1-888-351-4024, available in English and Spanish, where you can obtain assistance with detention matters and basic case information.
Detention Facilities
The ICE system will display the name of the facility where the person is being detained when that information is available.
It is advisable to contact the facility directly to confirm the information and learn its rules regarding:
- Visits;
- Phone calls; and
- Delivery of personal documents.
If the person is already detained by ICE and there are questions about the legality or duration of the detention, it may be necessary to consult a habeas corpus lawyer. For matters involving ICE detention in this state, you can also review our habeas corpus cases in New Jersey.
Emergency Steps to Take if You Discover a Deportation Order
If you discover that you have a deportation order in the United States, act quickly and carefully.
Making decisions without legal guidance can make the situation worse.
- Gather all your immigration documents, including the NTA, hearing notices, immigration judge decisions, and BIA documents.
- Confirm the date and type of decision in your documents and compare that information with EOIR records.
- Do not leave the country without understanding how departure could affect your case.
- If the decision is recent, immediately determine whether an appeal deadline is running. If the order was entered in absentia, determine whether the correct procedure is a motion to reopen.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deportation Orders
How to Find Out if I Have a Deportation Order if ACIS Does Not Show My Case?
If ACIS does not display information, that does not confirm that a deportation order never existed. The system does not contain every case or all case information. If you have questions, review the notices and decisions you received and, if necessary, request your case file to determine what the immigration court or BIA officially decided.
If I Have a Deportation Order, Will ICE Look for Me?
ICE may execute a final removal order, but having an order does not, by itself, mean there is a specific enforcement operation targeting you at this time. The situation depends on your case record and any applicable appeal, motion, stay, or other protection.
Is There a Public List of People Deported From the United States?
There is no general public list. To check a case before the immigration court, use EOIR. If you are looking for someone who is detained, use the ICE locator within its specific scope.
How Can Curbelo Law Help You?
At Curbelo Law, we understand how difficult it can be to discover that you have a deportation order. Our team works with cases like yours every day.
We can help you review your case file, distinguish a notice from a final decision, and evaluate which procedure may apply based on the circumstances of your case.
Contact us today for a private consultation. We can assist you in English or Spanish from our office in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Call us or schedule an appointment online.
