How to Leave an Urgent Message for Someone at Rio Grande Detention Center

Detainees at Rio Grande Detention Center cannot receive incoming phone calls. That makes things stressful when something time-sensitive comes up and you need to get information to them fast. Most people use the urgent-message process for situations like a medical issue, a serious family emergency, or a death in the family. The key thing to understand: you're not asking to be connected to the detainee. You're calling to leave a message that staff will pass along.

1. Call the urgent-message number: Dial (956) 718-4700.
2. Give the detainee’s identifying details: Provide the detainee’s full name and their alien registration number (A-number).
3. Leave your callback information: State your name and the telephone number where you can be reached.
4. Finish the message request: Once you have left that information, the detainee will be given your message.

• ✓ Detainee’s full name (say it slowly, and spell it if asked)
• ✓ Detainee’s alien registration number (A-number)
• ✓ Your name
• ✓ Your phone number where you can be reached
• ✓ Biographical details ready in case staff need help confirming identity (full name including any hyphenated names, aliases, date of birth, country of birth)

Info Ready

• ✓ First, last, and any hyphenated names (use the exact spelling you have)
• ✓ Any aliases the person may use
• ✓ Date of birth
• ✓ Country of birth

Having those details in front of you helps the facility identify the right person quickly, especially if the name is common. This is also the same information you'll need if you later call the facility's general information line for routine detainee inquiries.

Once you call (956) 718-4700 and provide the detainee's full name, A-number, and your contact information, staff will pass your message along to the detainee.

For non-urgent questions or routine detainee information at Rio Grande Detention Center, call (956) 615-9720 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.