Understanding the ICE National Detention Standards (2026)

On June 15, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued the National Detention Standards (NDS 2026), a comprehensive revision of the rules governing immigration detention facilities operated by, or under contract with, ICE.

Only three weeks later, on July 7, 2026,the Board of Immigration Appeals issued its precedential decision in Matter of R-A-N-, a decision likely to have significant consequences for many Russian asylum seekers who refused military service or participation in the war against Ukraine. At the same time, immigration courts continue to hear cases involving detained Ukrainian nationals and other individuals whose return may expose them to armed conflict, political persecution, or other serious humanitarian concerns.

Against this background, a clear understanding of the rules governing immigration detention has become increasingly important for detainees, their families, immigration attorneys, interpreters, and organizations providing legal assistance.

The National Detention Standards (2026) establish the minimum operational requirements applicable to immigration detention facilities. Although directed primarily to detention facilities and government contractors, they define many of the procedures and safeguards that affect individuals held in ICE custody every day.

The Standards regulate virtually every aspect of detention, including admission and classification procedures, medical, dental, and mental health care, disability accommodations, housing conditions, food service, attorney visitation, access to legal materials, grievance procedures, transportation, religious accommodation, disciplinary proceedings, use of force, emergency response, and many other operational matters.

The 2026 revision represents substantially more than a routine update. It reflects ICE's current detention policies and introduces significant structural and substantive changes throughout the document. One of its defining features is the consistent emphasis on meaningful accessibility. Nearly every standard now incorporates requirements concerning language assistance, effective communication, disability accommodations, and equal access to facility programs, services, and activities for detainees with limited English proficiency or disabilities.

The revised Standards also expand and clarify the responsibilities of detention facilities, including privately operated facilities housing detainees under ICE contracts. Among other requirements, every facility must maintain a Local Supplement (Detainee Handbook) explaining its own rules, available services, grievance procedures, legal access, medical care, visitation policies, and other essential information. While facilities may now provide these materials electronically, detainees remain entitled to receive a printed copy upon request.

The official publication is available only in English.

For many detainees, however, English is not the language in which they can reasonably understand a technical legal document of this nature. This applies not only to Russian nationals, but also to many Ukrainians and other detainees who understand Russian, including individuals from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Belarus, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and other countries where Russian remains a widely used language of communication.

To improve access to these materials, I prepared a complete Russian translation of the ICE National Detention Standards (2026)and make it available through this website free of charge.

The translation was prepared independently for educational and informational purposes. It is intended to assist immigration attorneys, detained individuals, family members, interpreters, accredited representatives, nonprofit organizations, and others working with individuals in immigration detention. It is not an official translation issued or approved by the United States Government, the Department of Homeland Security, or ICE. Whenever interpretation depends upon the precise wording of the Standards, the official English version remains controlling.

Preparing this translation has been my own professional contribution to the Russian-speaking immigration community. Over the course of several weeks, I translated the entire document because I believed that this important resource should be available not only to attorneys, but also to detainees, their families, interpreters, and organizations assisting individuals in immigration detention.

A translation cannot change the outcome of an immigration case. It can, however, help people better understand the rules governing detention, recognize the protections established by ICE policy, and facilitate more informed communication between detainees, their families, and legal counsel. I hope this resource will prove useful to everyone who works to protect the rights and dignity of individuals held in immigration detention.

Download the complete Russian translation of the ICE National Detention Standards (2026) (PDF).