What we verified in “A family member was detained: a plan to keep your home”

Statements and where we checked them

The statements with rules, figures or dates, with the exact place in the source and the date we checked them.

1. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has an official online tool called the Online Detainee Locator System, at locator.ice.gov.

   Sources 1 · Official page at locator.ice.gov/odls, title: 'Online Detainee Locator System' · Checked October 17, 2026

2. EOIR's Automated Case Information System (ACIS) gives basic information about the status of certain cases before an immigration court or the Board of Immigration Appeals; it does not show every case or all information; it is searched with the A-Number and nationality; for bond hearing information you must contact the local court; and the only official documents in the case are the ones the court or the Board issues to the person or their representative.

   Sources 2 · Automated Case Information System (ACIS): 'provides basic information about the status of certain cases before an immigration court or the Board of Immigration Appeals'; 'Not all cases, or all information about a case is displayed'; 'Enter your A-Number'; 'What is Nationality?'; 'Please contact your local court if you need bond hearing information'; 'are the only official determinations related to your case' · Checked October 17, 2026

3. EOIR publishes a list of free (pro bono) legal service providers that is given to people in immigration proceedings, with nonprofit organizations and attorneys who have committed to providing those services without charge; EOIR does not endorse those organizations or attorneys.

   Sources 3 · List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers: 'The List is provided to individuals in immigration proceedings'; 'contains information on non-profit organizations and attorneys who have committed to providing'; 'uncompensated legal services performed for indigent aliens or the public good'; 'EOIR does not endorse any of these organizations, referral services, or attorneys' · Checked October 17, 2026

4. According to the Justice Department's EOIR, only certain people can represent someone in their immigration case, including licensed attorneys and accredited representatives; notarios, document preparers, immigration consultants and travel agents are not allowed to practice law or give legal advice.

   Sources 4 · Can Someone Represent You Before EOIR?: 'Only certain individuals can represent you before EOIR'; 'Those include validly licensed attorneys and accredited representatives'; 'Notarios, document preparers, immigration consultants, and travel agents are not allowed to practice law'; 'They cannot give you legal advice' · Checked October 17, 2026

5. EOIR publishes the lists of recognized organizations and accredited representatives, also sorted by state.

   Sources 5 · Recognition & Accreditation (R&A) Program, roster reports: 'Recognized Organizations List'; 'Accredited Representatives List'; 'Organizations and Representatives, Listed by State' · Checked October 17, 2026

6. EOIR's Fraud and Abuse Prevention Program takes complaints about fraud, immigration scams and the unauthorized practice of immigration law, frequently committed by notarios and consultants; you report by email to EOIR.Fraud.Program@usdoj.gov; and EOIR employees never call to ask for personal information or money.

   Sources 6 · Fraud and Abuse Prevention Program: 'the unauthorized practice of immigration law (frequently committed by notarios, immigration consultants'; 'EOIR.Fraud.Program@usdoj.gov'; 'EOIR employees will never call and ask for personal information or money' · Checked October 17, 2026

7. EOIR's anti-fraud guide says not to trust people who claim a special relationship with USCIS or the immigration courts, or anyone who guarantees results; to get and keep a written contract; not to pay cash and to keep the receipt; never to give original documents to someone helping with immigration matters; and never to sign a blank form.

   Sources 7 · Self-Help Guide: Are You a Victim of Fraud? (EOIR), 'What Should You Do To Protect Yourself from Fraud?': 'Do not trust people who claim to have a special relationship with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or the immigration courts'; 'Do not trust anyone who guarantees specific results'; 'get and keep a written contract'; 'Do not pay cash for professional immigration services'; 'Never give your original documents (birth certificates, passports, or other papers) to anyone who is helping you with immigration matters'; 'Never sign a blank form, application, or petition' · Checked October 17, 2026

8. The Legal Services Corporation (LSC), established by Congress in 1974, funds civil legal aid for low-income people in every state; on its site you enter an address or city to find an LSC-funded legal aid organization near you.

   Sources 8 · I Need Legal Help: 'LSC is an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974 to provide financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans'; 'in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories'; 'enter an address or city below to find an LSC-funded legal aid organization near you' · Checked October 17, 2026

9. According to LSC, its funds go to nonprofit organizations that provide free legal assistance to low-income individuals and families, for example representing families facing eviction or foreclosure and helping parents with custody, child support or protection from domestic violence.

   Sources 9 · What are Legal Services?: 'distributing federal grants to nonprofit organizations that provide free legal assistance to low-income individuals and families'; 'Representing individuals and families facing eviction or foreclosure'; 'Helping parents secure custody, child support or protection from domestic violence' · Checked October 17, 2026

10. The CFPB says to call your mortgage servicer as soon as you know you cannot make your monthly payment and, if it has been trying to reach you, to accept its calls; the phone number is on your monthly bill; the servicer is the company you send your payment to each month; ask to speak to a specialist about mortgage assistance options, ask what options you have to stay in your home and keep asking until you understand what comes next.

    Sources 10 · How to work with your mortgage servicer: 'Call your mortgage servicer as soon as you know you can’t make your monthly payment'; 'make sure to accept calls from your mortgage servicer'; 'The phone number is on your monthly bill'; 'Your mortgage servicer is the company that you send your mortgage payments to each month'; 'Ask to speak to a specialist at your servicer about options for mortgage assistance'; 'Can you tell me what options I have to stay in my home?'; 'Keep asking questions until you understand what’s next' · Checked October 17, 2026

11. The CFPB says that if you cannot pay or fear falling behind, call your servicer right away; be ready to explain why you cannot pay, whether the problem is temporary or permanent, and your income, expenses and other assets; fill out the mortgage assistance application if the servicer gives you one; the servicer tells you which loss mitigation options, if any, it can offer; and those may include refinancing, a loan modification, a repayment plan, forbearance, a short sale or a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure.

    Sources 11 · If I can’t pay my mortgage loan, what are my options?: 'call your mortgage servicer right away'; 'Why you are unable to make your payment'; 'Whether the problem is temporary or permanent'; 'Details about your income, expenses and other assets like cash in the bank'; 'Fill out a mortgage assistance application, if your servicer gives you one'; 'They tell you what loss mitigation options, if any, they can offer you'; 'Refinance'; 'Get a loan modification'; 'Work out a repayment plan'; 'Get forbearance'; 'Short-sell your home'; 'deed-in-lieu of foreclosure' · Checked October 17, 2026

12. According to the CFPB, a HUD-approved housing counseling agency gives free, expert help to avoid foreclosure: it can review your situation, help you understand your servicer's options, guide you through the paperwork and help you at little or no cost with budgeting; the HOPE Hotline answers 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at (888) 995-4673.

    Sources 11 · If I can’t pay my mortgage loan, what are my options?: 'free, expert assistance on avoiding foreclosure'; 'Help you understand the loss mitigation options your servicer offers'; 'Guide you through the process of working with your servicer and any other programs and paperwork you may need'; 'Help you at little or no cost with budgeting, credit card debt, or other money problems'; '24 hours a day, seven days a week, at (888) 995-HOPE (4673)' · Checked October 17, 2026

13. The CFPB says you do not have to pay anyone to help you avoid foreclosure, because help is available at no cost from your servicer or a HUD-approved housing counseling agency; and that being asked to pay upfront, being guaranteed you will not lose your home or being told to send your payment to someone other than your mortgage company or servicer are signs of a scam.

    Sources 11 · If I can’t pay my mortgage loan, what are my options?, 'Watch out for scams': 'You don’t have to pay anyone to help you avoid foreclosure'; 'available at no cost to you from your servicer, or through a HUD-approved housing counseling agency'; 'You’re asked to pay upfront for help'; 'guarantees you won’t lose your home'; 'send your payment to someone other than your mortgage company or servicer' · Checked October 17, 2026

14. Under Regulation X, with exceptions, the servicer must establish or make good faith efforts to establish live contact with a delinquent borrower no later than the 36th day of delinquency, and inform them, if appropriate, that loss mitigation options exist; and it must send a written notice no later than the 45th day of delinquency with the phone number for assigned personnel, examples of options that may be available and how to get more information.

    Sources 12 · 12 CFR §1024.39(a)–(b): 'Except as otherwise provided in this section'; 'a servicer shall establish or make good faith efforts to establish live contact with a delinquent borrower no later than the 36th day of a borrower's delinquency'; 'inform the borrower about the availability of loss mitigation options, if appropriate'; 'no later than the 45th day of the borrower's delinquency'; 'The telephone number to access servicer personnel'; 'a brief description of examples of loss mitigation options that may be available from the servicer'; 'how to obtain more information about loss mitigation options' · Checked October 17, 2026

15. Under Regulation X, the rules in §§1024.38 to 1024.41 have exceptions, for example for a small servicer or a reverse mortgage, and §§1024.39 to 1024.41 only apply to loans secured by the borrower's principal residence.

    Sources 13 · 12 CFR §1024.30(b)–(c): 'shall not apply to the following'; 'A servicer that qualifies as a small servicer'; 'any reverse mortgage transaction'; 'only apply to a mortgage loan that is secured by a property that is a borrower's principal residence' · Checked October 17, 2026

16. Under Regulation X, the servicer may not make the first notice or filing of a foreclosure process unless the loan is more than 120 days delinquent, with exceptions such as a due-on-sale violation or joining another lienholder's foreclosure.

    Sources 14 · 12 CFR §1024.41(f)(1), Pre-foreclosure review period: 'A servicer shall not make the first notice or filing required by applicable law for any judicial or non-judicial foreclosure process unless'; 'A borrower's mortgage loan obligation is more than 120 days delinquent'; 'The foreclosure is based on a borrower's violation of a due-on-sale clause'; 'The servicer is joining the foreclosure action of a superior or subordinate lienholder' · Checked October 17, 2026

17. Under Regulation X, if the servicer receives a loss mitigation application 45 days or more before a foreclosure sale, it must say in writing within 5 days (excluding holidays, Saturdays and Sundays) whether it is complete or what is missing; and if it receives a complete application more than 37 days before the sale, within 30 days it must evaluate the borrower for all available options and notify them in writing.

    Sources 14 · 12 CFR §1024.41(b)–(c): 'If a servicer receives a loss mitigation application 45 days or more before a foreclosure sale'; 'Notify the borrower in writing within 5 days (excluding legal public holidays, Saturdays, and Sundays)'; 'either complete or incomplete'; 'the additional documents and information the borrower must submit'; 'more than 37 days before a foreclosure sale, then, within 30 days'; 'Evaluate the borrower for all loss mitigation options available to the borrower'; 'Provide the borrower with a notice in writing' · Checked October 17, 2026

18. According to the CFPB, forbearance lets you temporarily pause mortgage payments or make smaller payments; you still owe the full amount and pay back the difference later, because forbearance does not erase or reduce what you owe; before accepting, ask how much you will pay and for how long, how interest accrues and when and how you will pay back the paused amounts.

    Sources 15 · What is mortgage forbearance?: 'temporarily pause mortgage payments or make smaller payments'; 'You still owe the full amount, and you pay back the difference later'; 'Forbearance does not erase or decrease the amount you owe on your mortgage'; 'The amount you must pay, and for how long payments are paused or reduced'; 'How interest accrues during that time'; 'When and how you pay back the paused or reduced amounts' · Checked October 17, 2026

19. According to the CFPB, it helps to find out whether your landlord is willing to work with you; it is very rare for a landlord to prefer evicting you over receiving rent; and often the hardest part is starting the conversation.

    Sources 16 · What to do if you’re facing eviction: 'Find out if your landlord is willing to work with you or if they plan to file an eviction lawsuit'; 'It is very rare for a landlord to prefer going through the process of evicting you instead of receiving their rent'; 'Sometimes, the hardest part is just getting the conversation started' · Checked October 17, 2026

20. The CFPB describes options a renter and landlord can agree on: changing the due date to match payday or splitting it into several payments; the landlord skipping late penalties as long as you pay the agreed amount; accepting a smaller payment for a few months; spreading back rent over, say, six months to a year, adding a portion to each month; and it says many rental assistance programs accept applications from both landlords and renters.

    Sources 17 · Start a conversation about rent repayment: 'Many rental assistance programs accept applications from both landlords and renters'; 'Rent due dates are changed to align better with payday, or split into multiple payments over the month'; 'Landlords might be willing to skip the usual penalties, as long as renters keep up with paying an amount that you both agree on'; 'Landlords may be willing to accept a smaller payment for a few months'; 'Back rent is repaid over a period of time, say, six months to a year'; 'A portion of the amount owed is added to each month’s rent payment' · Checked October 17, 2026

21. According to the CFPB, state and local organizations that distribute rental assistance are the best place to start; 211 helps you find resources to pay rent or utilities, and you can call it from a cell phone or landline; after applying, rental assistance can take several weeks to arrive; and for energy bills there is the LIHEAP program and a national line at (866) 674-6327.

    Sources 18 · Get help paying rent and bills: 'are the best place to start when you are looking for help paying your rent'; '211 can help you identify available resources'; 'Call 211 from a cell phone or landline to speak to a local specialist today'; 'After applying it may take several weeks to receive rental assistance funds'; 'Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)'; '(866)-674-6327' · Checked October 17, 2026

22. According to the CFPB, your landlord cannot force you out by changing your locks without a court order, and your rights as a tenant are usually spelled out in your lease and in state or local law.

    Sources 19 · Your tenant and debt collection rights: 'Your rights as a tenant are usually spelled out in your rental agreement and state or local laws'; 'Force you out by changing your locks without a court order' · Checked October 17, 2026

23. According to the CFPB, if you want a family member or friend to help with your money you can consider a convenience account, adding trusted contacts to your accounts or a power of attorney (POA); with a POA the account stays in your name and the person you name, your 'agent', can help you with banking; if a copy of the POA is shared with the bank, the bank should honor it; and you should think carefully because the agent could withdraw money from your account without your permission.

    Sources 20 · Can a family member or friend help me with bill paying and banking? (reviewed June 27, 2023): 'opening a convenience bank account, adding trusted contacts to your accounts, or getting a power of attorney (POA)'; 'your bank account can remain in your name only'; 'If you or your agent shares a copy of the power of attorney document with bank employees, they should honor the document'; 'they could withdraw money from your account without your permission' · Checked October 17, 2026

24. According to the CFPB, a power of attorney is a legal document that allows someone else to act on your behalf; a financial POA can also be used short term, for example when a servicemember deploys overseas and names someone to pay bills or handle other business in their absence; it gives a great deal of authority over your finances without regular oversight, so you should only appoint someone you really trust; it can be revoked; a lawyer can help protect you against abuse and, if you cannot afford one, you may be able to use free legal aid programs; and many states have laws against POA abuse.

    Sources 21 · What is a power of attorney (POA)? (reviewed August 28, 2026): 'A power of attorney is a legal document that allows someone else to act on your behalf'; 'A financial POA can also be used for short-term purposes'; 'can create a POA so someone can pay bills, sell property, or handle other business in their absence'; 'It gives someone else a great deal of authority over your finances without regular oversight'; 'Only appointing someone you really trust'; 'you can revoke or cancel your POA'; 'If you're unable to afford a lawyer, you may be able to take advantage of free legal aid programs'; 'Many states have laws in place to help protect against POA abuse' · Checked October 17, 2026

25. In Florida, the law says the agent under a power of attorney must be a person 18 or older (or a financial institution with trust powers in the state), and that the power of attorney must be signed by the principal and two witnesses and acknowledged by the principal before a notary public.

    Sources 22 · Florida Statutes §709.2105 (2026), Qualifications of agent; execution of power of attorney: 'The agent must be a natural person who is 18 years of age or older or a financial institution that has trust powers'; 'A power of attorney must be signed by the principal and by two subscribing witnesses and be acknowledged by the principal before a notary public' · Checked October 17, 2026