Federal Law Enforcement / Immigration / Public Records
ICE & Park Police Arrests in Washington, DC
How to search U.S. Park Police reports, locate someone in immigration detention, and check related court records.
Quick answer: There is no single public database covering all ICE and U.S. Park Police arrests in Washington, DC. To research an incident, identify which agency made the arrest, request the appropriate police report, and use the relevant immigration or court system.
People searching for “ice park police arrests dc” are generally looking for reports of U.S. Park Police activity involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the Washington metropolitan area.
Reader notice: ICE and the U.S. Park Police are separate federal agencies. A Park Police traffic stop does not automatically mean ICE made an immigration arrest. A detention or arrest is also not proof of a criminal conviction. This is an independent informational article, not a live government arrest roster.
What Are ICE Park Police Arrests in DC?
The phrase commonly refers to immigration enforcement incidents in the Washington, DC, area where U.S. Park Police initiated a police encounter and ICE agents subsequently became involved.
The U.S. Park Police is a federal law enforcement organization within the National Park Service. Its responsibilities include policing federal parklands, national monuments, parkways, and other areas within its jurisdiction.
ICE is a separate agency within the Department of Homeland Security. Its Enforcement and Removal Operations division carries out immigration enforcement and manages aspects of immigration detention.
Because their responsibilities differ, their records are not stored in one unified public arrest lookup system.
Why does the distinction matter?
A police stop may produce a traffic citation, police incident report, arrest report, or another record. If ICE takes someone into immigration custody, an additional federal immigration record may exist.
That immigration matter may later involve an immigration court. A separate local or federal criminal case might exist if criminal charges were filed, but not every civil immigration detention creates a criminal court case.
The correct lookup therefore depends on what happened and which agency maintains the information you need.
What Has Been Reported About ICE and Park Police Arrests?
A March 11, 2026, investigation by Capital News Service and the University of Maryland’s Howard Center for Investigative Journalism examined court filings describing ICE arrests involving U.S. Park Police in the Washington metropolitan area.
The investigation reviewed records filed from September 2025 through February 2026 in litigation challenging certain immigration arrests by the Department of Homeland Security.
- March 11, 2026
- Capital News Service published an investigation about cooperation between U.S. Park Police and ICE in the DC region.
- At least 10
- The investigation identified at least ten ICE arrests in which U.S. Park Police were involved, based on reviewed court filings. This was not an official comprehensive arrest count.
- At least 3
- At least three incidents involved workers traveling in commercial vehicles, according to the reporting.
- Primary documents
- The investigation drew on sworn declarations and ICE arrest records submitted in court proceedings.
These figures describe the incidents the journalists found in that specific body of court records. They should not be presented as the total number of ICE or Park Police arrests in DC during 2026.
How did traffic stops become relevant?
Several documented incidents concerned vehicles traveling on federally managed parkways. U.S. Park Police enforce traffic and public safety rules on routes within their jurisdiction.
One issue involved restrictions on commercial vehicles using certain parkways. The investigation described incidents in which Park Police conducted stops and immigration officers subsequently took individuals into custody.
A Park Police spokesperson told reporters that the agency does not conduct immigration-related stops or arrests and that its traffic stops serve public safety enforcement. The spokesperson also acknowledged that DHS personnel present after a stop may ask additional questions that lead to an immigration arrest.
Immigration advocates questioned whether some traffic stops were being used to facilitate immigration enforcement. Those allegations were contested, and their legal resolution should not be inferred from the reporting alone.
Which areas were mentioned?
The reporting discussed Washington-area parkways and routes including Rock Creek Parkway and the Baltimore-Washington, Clara Barton, and George Washington Memorial parkways.
These are different roads with different surrounding jurisdictions. Some run through Washington, DC; others extend into Maryland or Virginia.
A record search should therefore begin with the specific date, location, and agencies involved in the encounter rather than assuming every incident falls under DC’s local criminal court system.
Can you read the original investigation?
Yes. The original Capital News Service report on Park Police and ICE enforcement gives the reporting context, source descriptions, and the positions presented by the parties.
The report is a journalistic analysis of selected records, not a government arrest database. To verify a particular legal claim, locate the relevant primary court filing or official record when available.
Which Agency Maintains ICE and Park Police Arrest Records?
Different agencies may hold overlapping records about the same event. Some records are available through agency request procedures, while others require federal information requests or court searches.
U.S. Park Police
The U.S. Park Police maintains records related to its law enforcement activity. Depending on the circumstances, these can include police incident reports, traffic records, and related investigative material.
Its responsibilities are explained on the official Park Police jurisdiction and authority page.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
ICE may maintain records related to an immigration apprehension, detention, custody transfer, or enforcement action. Such records are not generally available through a public name-searchable arrest log.
The Online Detainee Locator System serves a narrower purpose: helping users locate eligible people in immigration custody.
Executive Office for Immigration Review
The Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) maintains information about proceedings before immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals.
EOIR’s automated case information system can provide certain hearing and case-status details, but it is not a police arrest report.
Metropolitan Police Department
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is DC’s local police agency. If MPD participated in an encounter or created a local incident record, it may maintain relevant documents.
MPD records should not be assumed to contain all federal immigration enforcement activity in Washington.
Federal and DC courts
DC Superior Court handles many local criminal cases. Federal district courts handle federal proceedings, while immigration courts address administrative immigration matters. These court systems are distinct.
How to Request U.S. Park Police Arrest and Incident Reports
The National Park Service provides official instructions for obtaining U.S. Park Police records. The appropriate procedure depends on whether you were personally involved in the incident and what type of record is being requested.
Step-by-step report request
- Identify the incident.
Record the approximate date, time, location, and type of encounter. Note whether it was a traffic stop, arrest, accident, or another law enforcement event.
- Confirm the responding agency.
Determine whether the U.S. Park Police, MPD, ICE, or another agency participated. Uniforms, report numbers, citations, and official documents can help establish this.
- Use the Park Police instructions.
Open the official Request a Police Report page. Follow the applicable procedure for someone directly involved in the incident.
- Provide a sufficiently specific description.
Include the relevant event details and report number when available. Avoid submitting unnecessary sensitive information in a public or unsecured channel.
- Use FOIA for an appropriate broader records request.
If the record is not obtainable through the incident-report procedure, consult the Park Police FOIA guidance and the Department of the Interior submission process.
- Review the response.
The agency may release a document, ask for additional details, redact protected information, or provide a denial with an explanation under the applicable rules.
Which email address is listed?
The National Park Service’s dedicated Park Police report-request page lists [email protected] for requesting electronic documents concerning law enforcement incidents in which the requester was involved.
Its contact directory also gives specialized instructions for crash reports and other police incidents. Follow the most applicable current instructions rather than sending the same request to several unrelated addresses.
For formal federal FOIA submissions, the agency directs users to the Department of the Interior’s FOIA Public Access Link or FOIA.gov.
Can anyone obtain another person’s complete police file?
No general right of unrestricted access exists. Federal disclosure rules include protections for personal privacy, law enforcement investigations, confidential sources, and other exempt material.
Requests involving a third person’s personally identifiable records may require consent or another valid legal basis. A formal request may produce only redacted information.
Practical advice: The more precisely you identify the incident and the type of document requested, the easier it is for the records custodian to determine which records might exist and what can legally be released.
How to Find Someone Detained by ICE in Washington, DC
If the question is whether someone is presently in federal immigration custody, start with the official ICE Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS).
The system can help locate eligible individuals in ICE custody and people who have been in U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody for more than 48 hours.
Option 1: Search using the A-Number
- Open the official ICE detainee locator.
- Select the A-Number search option.
- Enter the nine-digit A-Number. If the known number has fewer digits, follow ICE’s instructions for adding leading zeros.
- Select the person’s country of birth.
- Run the search and review the available custody-location result.
The A-Number is a unique immigration identification number. Use it only for an appropriate purpose and avoid publishing it on third-party websites.
Option 2: Search by biographical details
- Choose the name-based search option.
- Enter the first and last name exactly as recorded.
- Select the country of birth.
- Supply additional birth-date information as requested or available.
- Review matches carefully before contacting a facility.
ICE explains that name searches require exact matches. Small differences in spelling, hyphens, or recorded names may prevent a result from appearing.
What if no detainee appears?
An unsuccessful search does not prove that the person was never detained. Records can be delayed, an individual may be held by another agency, or the person may have been released or transferred.
The locator does not provide searchable records for individuals younger than 18.
For an unresolved immigration detention inquiry, the ICE Detention Reporting and Information Line is 1-888-351-4024. ICE lists live assistance Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time, with language assistance available.
What if the person was moved outside DC?
Immigration detention locations may be outside the jurisdiction where an arrest initially occurred. Search the federal locator and contact the appropriate ICE field office or detention facility for current details.
Do not assume that a person arrested in Washington, DC, must remain in a DC jail or detention facility.
How to Search Immigration and Criminal Court Records in DC
There are three different case-search routes, depending on the proceeding.
| Case Type | Search System | What It Provides |
|---|---|---|
| Immigration proceedings | EOIR Automated Case Information | Available immigration hearing schedules, certain decisions, and primary case status information. |
| DC local criminal case | DC Superior Court eAccess | Publicly accessible local criminal case dockets and selected case information. |
| Federal court proceeding | PACER | Federal court dockets and eligible case documents, including civil litigation. |
Immigration court cases: EOIR
The EOIR Automated Case Information System provides basic information about certain immigration court and Board of Immigration Appeals proceedings.
- Open the official system.
- Use the relevant A-Number.
Enter the case identification information requested by the system.
- Review the case information.
Check available hearing, decision and court information. Not every case or detail appears.
- Verify official notices.
EOIR states that court-issued documents, rather than the automated status display, are the authoritative notices for the case.
The automated telephone service is also available at 1-800-898-7180. Hearing information may not appear until the immigration court schedules the proceeding.
DC Superior Court criminal cases
DC Courts provides separate public case-search systems. The Superior Court’s eAccess search includes eligible criminal cases, while other divisions use the general Portal.
Visit the official DC Superior Court Case Search page and select eAccess for the relevant local criminal case type.
The court warns that records may be incomplete or outdated due to processing and quality-review cycles. Some case types and documents are not publicly available online.
Federal court cases: PACER
Federal court proceedings, including certain lawsuits over immigration enforcement, may be searchable through PACER.
Visit PACER’s Find a Case page, create or use an authorized account, and search the relevant court or nationwide index.
PACER may charge document-access fees. Public court filings also may contain redactions, pseudonyms, sealed exhibits, or other access restrictions.
How do these systems relate to the reported Park Police cases?
The March 2026 reporting about Park Police and ICE examined documents from litigation concerning immigration arrests. That type of federal civil litigation is different from an individual person’s immigration court proceedings or a local criminal prosecution.
A search for the litigation should use available federal court identifiers. A search for an individual’s immigration hearing should use EOIR. A local criminal filing should be checked in the court that handles that offense.
How to Make a FOIA Request for Federal Arrest Records
The federal Freedom of Information Act allows people to request qualifying records from federal agencies, subject to applicable exemptions and procedural requirements.
The U.S. Park Police and ICE belong to different federal departments. A request must be directed to the agency reasonably likely to maintain the requested record.
Start by identifying the record
Examples of potentially relevant records include an officer’s incident report, a specific enforcement action report, correspondence about an incident, or a qualifying federal administrative record.
Not every document is subject to public disclosure. Records about another individual can involve significant privacy restrictions.
Steps for a focused FOIA request
- Determine which agency has the records.
For a Park Police incident report, follow the National Park Service process. For ICE records, consult the agency’s current FOIA instructions or the federal FOIA directory.
- Describe the event and documents.
Include the approximate date, location, agency, and record type, along with an incident or case number if known.
- Identify the basis for access.
If requesting your own records, follow applicable identity-verification rules. For another person’s records, check consent and disclosure requirements.
- Submit through an authorized channel.
Use the agency’s official online portal, written request procedure, or the appropriate guidance at FOIA.gov.
- Keep the tracking information.
Retain any acknowledgement, tracking number, and subsequent agency correspondence.
- Read the final response carefully.
Documents may be released, partially redacted, withheld, or referred to another agency. Follow the stated procedures for clarification or appeal when appropriate.
Which FOIA process should you use?
For Park Police records, see the NPS Park Police FOIA page. The National Park Service explains that its formal FOIA requests must use accepted submission methods.
For federal immigration enforcement records, begin at FOIA.gov and locate the appropriate ICE or DHS records process. Some immigration files are held by other DHS components, including USCIS or CBP.
How long does a records request take?
Federal FOIA law establishes general response requirements, but actual processing time varies depending on the request, agency workload, required searches, consultation with other agencies, and exemptions.
Do not assume that an incident report, immigration file, and federal court document will become available on the same schedule.
Useful distinction: A FOIA response is not the same as a live detainee-location result. For an urgent custody question, use the ICE locator and detention contact resources instead of waiting for an ordinary records request.
ICE, Park Police, MPD, and Court Records Compared
Use this reference table to avoid searching the wrong database.
| Agency | Records or Information | Official Access |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Park Police | Police incident reports and eligible law enforcement documents. | Report request instructions |
| ICE | Eligible immigration custody location information. | ICE Detainee Locator |
| EOIR | Certain immigration case status and hearing information. | Automated Case Information |
| DC MPD | Qualifying local police and criminal history records. | MPD Records Division |
| DC Superior Court | Eligible local criminal proceedings and case dockets. | Superior Court eAccess |
| Federal judiciary | Federal civil and criminal proceedings, including selected litigation records. | PACER |
Why isn’t there one complete DC arrest roster?
Federal immigration detention, local criminal arrest reporting, Park Police records, and federal court proceedings are administered by different organizations. These systems also have different public-disclosure rules.
A public website advertising a complete real-time combined roster should not be treated as authoritative without clear official sourcing.
What If You Cannot Find an ICE or Park Police Arrest Record?
The arresting agency is uncertain
Start with official incident paperwork, citation details, the location, and the agency identified by witnesses or family members. A federal traffic stop does not always establish which agency made a subsequent custody decision.
The incident happened recently
Administrative records may not be immediately available. Use the correct custody inquiry service when there is an immediate need to locate someone rather than relying only on published reports.
The person does not appear in the ICE locator
Check exact spelling and identification information. The person may be in another agency’s custody, recently transferred, released, or not yet reflected in the system.
Use ICE’s listed detention information number or the relevant field office if the search remains unsuccessful.
No immigration court record appears
EOIR’s system does not show every immigration record. Some proceedings may not yet be entered or may not fall within its displayed scope.
The person’s official immigration notices and communications with their legal representative are more appropriate sources for case-specific instructions.
No local criminal case appears
A civil immigration arrest does not necessarily generate a DC Superior Court criminal prosecution. Check whether a separate criminal charge was actually filed and which court would have jurisdiction.
A police report is withheld
Federal law enforcement records can be restricted under FOIA exemptions, including protections for privacy and active investigations.
Review the agency’s response, assess any available administrative appeal instructions, and seek legal assistance for a contested or consequential disclosure issue.
The incident occurred outside Washington, DC
Nearby roads and parkways may cross into Maryland or Virginia. Verify the actual location before submitting records requests to DC agencies.
U.S. Park Police Records Office Location in Washington, DC
The U.S. Park Police’s official contact directory identifies its Freedom of Information Act and administrative offices at 1100 Ohio Drive SW, Washington, DC.
This is a police administrative and records contact location. It is not an ICE detention facility, and its address should not be used to assume where an individual in immigration custody is held.
- Organization
- United States Park Police
- Records address
- 1100 Ohio Drive SW, Washington, DC 20024
- FOIA office
- 202-619-7385
- Non-emergency
- 202-610-7505
- Police reports
- Official report request instructions
Open location and directions ↗
Can you obtain a police report by visiting?
Begin with the agency’s current written or electronic report-request instructions. A physical visit may not be necessary or appropriate for the type of record sought.
The official Park Police contact directory distinguishes administrative, police-station, and records-related offices.
What number should you call for custody information?
For ICE detention questions, the ICE Detention Reporting and Information Line at 1-888-351-4024 is more relevant than the Park Police administrative records office.
Legal Accuracy, Privacy, and Responsible Use of Arrest Records
Federal immigration enforcement and criminal court proceedings can have serious consequences for individuals and families. Public records should be evaluated carefully, with attention to what each document establishes.
An immigration detention is not automatically a criminal conviction
Immigration custody and criminal prosecution are distinct legal processes. An individual may be held for an immigration-related matter without having been convicted of a criminal offense.
A criminal conviction must be established through the relevant court process, not inferred from a detention record or agency allegation.
Public allegations and judicial findings are different
Sworn declarations, agency reports, complaints, motions, and judicial orders serve different purposes. An allegation in a lawsuit does not become a proven court finding simply because the document appears on a public docket.
When researching a contested enforcement incident, read the relevant order and disposition, not only a headline or a complaint.
Protect personal identity information
Do not post A-Numbers, full birth dates, identity documents, or personal contact information on unrelated public websites. Use official agency systems or secure channels recommended by an authorized legal representative.
Record access has limitations
FOIA allows federal records requests, but agencies may withhold or redact protected information. A person requesting another individual’s records may face additional privacy restrictions.
Employment and eligibility screening
This article is not a consumer reporting product. Employers, landlords, insurers, and other regulated decision-makers should not substitute general arrest searches for legally compliant screening procedures.
Legal questions require case-specific advice
If a record concerns an ongoing immigration case, custody challenge, removal proceeding, or possible unlawful arrest, consult a qualified attorney or authorized immigration legal service provider.
The federal EOIR resources directory is a useful starting point for understanding available immigration court information and assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions About ICE Park Police Arrests in DC
What does ICE Park Police arrests DC mean?
The search phrase generally concerns immigration enforcement incidents in the Washington metropolitan area where U.S. Park Police activity and ICE arrests were connected. The agencies are separate and maintain different records.
Are U.S. Park Police and ICE the same agency?
No. U.S. Park Police is part of the National Park Service within the Department of the Interior. ICE operates within the Department of Homeland Security.
Were Park Police involved in ICE arrests in Washington, DC?
A March 2026 Capital News Service investigation identified at least ten ICE arrests involving Park Police based on reviewed court filings. The finding was limited to the records examined and was not a comprehensive official count.
Where can I search U.S. Park Police arrest records?
Start with the National Park Service’s official U.S. Park Police report-request and FOIA instructions. There is no single public Park Police roster covering all historical incidents and ICE custody activity.
Can I search recent ICE arrests in DC by name?
The ICE detainee locator can help identify eligible individuals in immigration custody using required identification details. It is not a complete public historical list of everyone ICE has arrested.
How do I find someone currently detained by ICE?
Use the official ICE Online Detainee Locator System at locator.ice.gov. If the person cannot be located, contact the appropriate ICE field office or the detention reporting information line.
Does the ICE locator include minors?
No. ICE’s public detainee locator does not provide records for individuals under 18.
Where do I find an immigration court hearing?
Use the EOIR Automated Case Information System or the official telephone service. Court-issued notices remain the authoritative documents concerning hearing schedules and case determinations.
Can I search DC Superior Court for an ICE arrest?
Only when a relevant local criminal case exists within the court’s jurisdiction. A civil federal immigration arrest does not automatically produce a DC Superior Court criminal case.
Where can I find federal lawsuits about ICE arrests?
Use PACER to locate federal court cases and review publicly accessible filings, subject to applicable registration, charges, and disclosure restrictions.
How can I request a Park Police incident report?
Follow the official National Park Service Request a Police Report page for incidents directly involving you. Broader records requests may need the formal federal FOIA process.
Does an immigration arrest prove criminal guilt?
No. Immigration custody and criminal conviction are distinct legal concepts. An arrest or detention record does not by itself establish that a person was convicted of a crime.
Where is the U.S. Park Police records office in DC?
The official contact directory lists the Park Police FOIA office at 1100 Ohio Drive SW, Washington, DC 20024. Contact the agency before visiting; the address is not an ICE detention facility.
Why might an arrest record be missing?
Possible reasons include reporting delays, jurisdiction differences, record restrictions, transfers, release from custody, or incomplete identifying details. Check with the responsible agency instead of relying on one database.
Official Sources and Reporting References
These sources provide agency descriptions, official public lookup tools, records request procedures, and the reporting context discussed in this article.
- National Park Service: About the U.S. Park Police and Jurisdiction and Authority.
- U.S. Park Police: Request a Police Report and FOIA Requests.
- U.S. Park Police: Official Contact and Office Directory.
- ICE: Online Detainee Locator System.
- USAGov: Locate Someone Detained by ICE.
- Department of Justice: EOIR Check Case Status and Automated Case Information.
- DC Courts: Superior Court Case Search.
- Federal Judiciary: PACER Federal Court Case Search.
- Metropolitan Police Department: Police Records FOIA Procedures.
- Federal Government: FOIA.gov and National Park Service FOIA Guidance.
- Capital News Service: March 11, 2026, Investigation Into Park Police and ICE Enforcement.
- U.S. Department of Justice: May 13, 2025, Federal Immigration Operation Announcement. This describes a separate coordinated enforcement operation and should not be treated as a Park Police-specific arrest total.
Which Record Should You Search First?
If you are trying to obtain a Park Police incident report, start with the National Park Service’s official request instructions. If you need to find someone in immigration custody, use the ICE detainee locator.
For immigration hearings, consult EOIR. For a local criminal prosecution, search DC Superior Court. For federal litigation, use PACER. If you need documents that are not publicly searchable, identify the correct federal records custodian and follow its FOIA instructions.
The most reliable research begins with identifying which agency took the action and which type of record is needed.