Is the Imperial court the same place as the detention center?
No, and the similar names can mislead. EOIR's page, updated October 8, 2026, states in capitals that the court is NOT at the Imperial Regional Detention Facility. ICE lists the Imperial Regional Detention Facility at 1572 Gateway Road, Calexico, CA 92231, while the court is on La Brucherie Road in Imperial. Neither page says where people held at the facility appear, so a relative should not drive to either address on a guess. Read the location on the notice, and if someone is in custody, ask the court on 760-370-5200. Visiting a detained relative is a separate matter and follows the facility's own rules.
What happens when I arrive at the Imperial court?
This court has its own lobby rule. You sign in with the lobby attendant, and building policy says neither visitors nor attorneys may stay in the lobby or near the entrance doors. So do not plan to meet your lawyer or relatives there. An attorney who needs to see a client before a hearing asks the security officer, who gives directions to the pro bono room. Court screening applies here too, and our master calendar hearing guide explains why to arrive early. If a hearing is missed, see our guide to orders issued when someone does not appear.
How do I get to the Imperial court, and is there parking?
EOIR says there is parking at the court at no charge, and that it is accessible to people with disabilities. For public transit, EOIR says only that a bus serves the city of Imperial, and it sends readers to ivtransit.com for route information. It gives no stop, walking route or travel time, so check the current schedule on that site before relying on a bus. If you are coming from Calexico, note that a facility address in Calexico on your paperwork does not by itself tell you where a hearing will be held. The location printed on the notice does.
Why does a Calexico detention case mention Imperial, and where do papers go?
EOIR's administrative control list, updated October 1, 2026, ties the Imperial Regional Detention Facility to this court. That matters for filing, because under 8 CFR 1003.11 papers in a case go to the court with administrative control of the record and to no other court. It does not settle where a person appears. The window on La Brucherie Road closes half an hour before public hours end. Asylum.Clock.Imperial@usdoj.gov takes only asylum EAD clock requests, the requests about the day count for a work permit, while general email goes to Imperial.Immigration.Court@usdoj.gov. ICE's facility page gives 1-800-898-7180 for a matter before the court, and our guide to finding your date and court explains that line.
Which judges does EOIR list at Imperial?
EOIR's page lists three immigration judges here: William LaFleur, Jeffrey V. Muñoz and Stuart J. Zander. It names Anne Kristina Perry as Assistant Chief Immigration Judge and Julie Nelson as backup. A staff listing does not show who has your case, so go by your notice. The court's page has no remote hearing rules of its own and points to EOIR's internet-based hearing directory. EOIR adds that the court can close unexpectedly for bad weather, and its Operational Status page listed Imperial as open on October 31, 2026. Check that page before a long drive.