How do I confirm someone is at Cibola?
Check ice.gov/locator first, spelling the name exactly as on the detention record or using the A-number; people under 18 are not shown. Then phone (505) 285-4900 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Urgent messages use a separate line, (505) 285-4905, where you leave the person's name and A-number with your callback number. A listing on the ICE facility list says nothing about whether a certain person is at this center in Milan, New Mexico.
When can I visit Cibola, and do I need approval?
ICE's page, updated August 6, 2026, lists Friday through Monday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., plus all federal holidays, and calls these contact visits. CoreCivic's October 2023 sheet says weekends and holidays, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and that all visitors need advance approval from the Unit Team, with at most 4 visitors excluding children. The sheet is older and speaks of inmates and residents, so ask at (505) 285-4900 ext. 0 which rules apply. ICE says to arrive 15 minutes before visiting begins and 1 hour before it closes. A visit may not exceed 8 hours. Bring government ID.
How do I send money to Cibola without it coming back?
ICE's page says money arriving at the facility by mail is returned to the sender, yet also names PO Box 3540 for money orders and cashier's checks. CoreCivic treats that box as correspondence only and sends funds to its lockbox: a money order or cashier's check payable to the person, addressed to CORECIVIC, last name, first name, commissary number, Facility, P.O. Box 16545, Atlanta, GA 30321-0545. Its 2023 sheet shows an older box and a facility code that looks wrong, so get the code from (505) 285-4900 before mailing. No personal checks. Visitors may deposit cash at the facility Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
What can I wear, and how do letters reach someone?
CoreCivic's 2023 sheet bars shorts of any length, hats, halter and tank tops, and jewelry except a wedding band, earrings or a religious medallion. It allows reasonable infant care products and $40.00 in change for the vending machines. Letters go to the person's name, Cibola County Correctional Center, PO Box 3540, Milan, NM 87021, with the last four A-number digits and your return address. Before sending a package, call the mail clerk at (505) 285-4911. Items for travel or release need ICE deportation officer approval, and electronic devices such as phones, electric razors, laptops and radios are refused. Tablet messages go through gettingout.com.
Which court and ICE office apply?
EOIR's list, updated October 1, 2026, places Cibola under the Otero Immigration Court in Chaparral, which keeps the records. For the actual date and place, use this guide to finding a hearing or 1-800-898-7180. ICE's office directory lists El Paso, which covers New Mexico, at (915) 225-1901, while the facility page shows (915) 856-2317. Case questions go to ElPaso.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov; attorneys from outside the area can use it to reach the deportation officer through Albuquerque, with a G-28 on file. Lawyers call ahead for in-person visits and book virtual sessions at (505) 285-4828. For release from custody, see our bond hearing guide.