How to Leave an Urgent Message for Someone at Otay Mesa Detention Center

Save this process for situations that truly can't wait: a medical emergency, an immediate legal deadline, or a death in the family. Routine updates or check-ins? Those are better handled through regular communication channels. The urgent-message route is designed to get time-sensitive information to the detainee quickly.

Call (619) 671-8700 for urgent messages and detainee information. Staff are available Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For the fastest response, call during those hours.

Info to Have

• ✓ First, last, and any hyphenated names
• ✓ Any aliases the person may use
• ✓ Date of birth
• ✓ Country of birth

1. Call Otay Mesa Detention Center at (619) 671-8700 - this is the number used for urgent messages.
2. Ask to leave an urgent message for a detainee - detainees cannot receive incoming calls, so this is the right way to get a message routed to them.
3. Give the detainee’s full name and Alien Registration Number (A-number) - staff need this to identify the correct person.
4. Leave your name and a phone number where you can be reached - include the best callback number.
5. State your urgent message clearly and briefly - stick to the essential facts so it can be passed along accurately.

Calling outside office hours or can't get through? Otay Mesa Detention Center has tablets available to detainees, and you can send a non-confidential message through the GettingOut service. It's a solid backup when the phone line isn't an option.

Practical Checklist

• ✓ Call (619) 671-8700 (Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
• ✓ Detainee’s full name (including any hyphenated names)
• ✓ Any aliases
• ✓ Date of birth
• ✓ Country of birth
• ✓ Detainee’s Alien Registration Number (A-number)
• ✓ Your name
• ✓ Your phone number (best callback number)
• ✓ Remember: detainees cannot receive incoming calls; staff will pass your urgent message to the detainee