Harlingen Service Facility

About our facility

The DIHS Healthcare Facility - Harlingen Staging was officially opened 31 Jul 2006 in support of operational expansion within the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agency. The Harlingen Staging Facility (HSF) operates a 24/7 processing center for all adult alien detainees entering ICE custody in the Rio Grande Valley area. The Harlingen Staging Facility receives transfer detainees from many sources to include local Border Patrol, local jails, US Marshalls Service, and ICE detention facilities from across the US. Detainees are maintained at the HSF for only a short period of time and are subsequently transferred to an ICE detention center where the detainees are housed pending the outcome of their immigration case.

Meet our staff and see what we do

Operated by the Division of Immigration Health Services, the ambulatory clinic is staffed by a core group of US Public Health Service Commissioned Officers and contract nursing personnel. As the first health service provided to all adult detainees entering ICE custody in the Rio Grande Valley area, health screening and communicable disease identification is the primary focus of the DIHS Healthcare Facility – Harlingen Staging staff. Due to the short period of time detainees are at the Harlingen Staging Facility, detainees identified with chronic and acute healthcare needs are referred to the DIHS Medical Facility at the local ICE detention centers or to the local community hospital for comprehensive evaluation and treatment.

Our Location

Founded in 1904, Harlingen has become to be known as the "Tropical Playground of Texas" due to the semi-tropical climate and variety of year round leisure activities. Harlingen is located in what is considered the middle of the Rio Grande Valley just minutes from the US-Mexico Border and less than one hour from the white sands of South Padre Island and the Gulf of Mexico. The Rio Grande Valley area spans approximately 60 miles west to Rio Grande City, 30 miles east to Brownsville Texas, and approximately 60 miles north to Falfurrias and Sarita Texas. Harlingen sits mid-way between the two largest cities in the Rio Grande Valley with McAllen 30 miles to the West and Brownsville 30 miles to the East.

Places to go, People to see

Harlingen has a growing population of more than 65,000 year round residents. During the winter months, the population significantly expands when Winter Texans from the Midwestern and Northern US and Canada migrate to the area to avoid the harsh northern winter. Harlingen and the Rio Grande Valley offer activities for everyone. For those who enjoy wildlife, a visit to the renowned Wild Birding Center, the Gladys Porter Zoo, or the Laguna Atascosa and Santa Anna National Wildlife Refuges should be on your schedule. If you are in a flare for sports, spend an evening taking in White Wing's Baseball (Harlingen's Minor League Baseball Team), watch the dogs run at the Greyhound Race Park, or visit the Dodge Arena for a minor league hockey or basketball game or an Arena Football game. Mexico is just minutes away with shopping, food, and nightlife to be enjoyed without emptying your wallet. To relax, soak your feet in the warm white sands of South Padre Island or enjoy fishing, camping, surfing, parasailing, or playing at the Schlitterbahn water park.

To learn more

About the Division of Immigration Health Services' Harlingen Staging Facility and the clinical and administrative opportunities available, please contact us at the address below.