detainer
noun
de·tain·er
di-ˈtā-nər 
1
: the act of keeping something in one's possession
specifically
: the withholding from the rightful owner of something that has lawfully come into the possession of the holder
2
: detention in custody
3
: a writ authorizing the keeper of a prison to continue to hold a person in custody
Examples of detainer in a Sentence
keep him in detainer for at least 72 hours
she filed an action for unlawful detainer of land after nonpayment of rent
Recent Examples on the Web
However, the 6th District Court of Rhode Island declined to honor the detainer, releasing Mendoza without notifying ICE, forcing agents to locate and arrest him in the community.
—
Stepheny Price , Bill Melugin, FOXNews.com, 15 July 2025
Under federal procedures, Miami-Dade jails will hold someone for an extra two business days if ICE has a detention request — known as a detainer — for them.
—Miami Herald, 9 July 2025
The Orange County Jail confirmed this week that some number of people detained at the jail – which has an agreement with ICE to house federal inmates, including those on immigration detainers – were subsequently transferred to Alligator Alcatraz.
—Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 July 2025
However, officials in Floyd County, 65 miles northwest of Atlanta, held him for ICE in accordance with an agreement to uphold federal detainers.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for detainer
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Stepheny Price , Bill Melugin, FOXNews.com, 15 July 2025
Under federal procedures, Miami-Dade jails will hold someone for an extra two business days if ICE has a detention request — known as a detainer — for them.
—Miami Herald, 9 July 2025
The Orange County Jail confirmed this week that some number of people detained at the jail – which has an agreement with ICE to house federal inmates, including those on immigration detainers – were subsequently transferred to Alligator Alcatraz.
—Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 July 2025
However, officials in Floyd County, 65 miles northwest of Atlanta, held him for ICE in accordance with an agreement to uphold federal detainers.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for detainer
Cite this Entry
“Detainer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detainer. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
detainer
noun
de·tain·er
di-ˈtā-nər
1
: the act of keeping something in one's possession
specifically
: unlawful detainer
2
: detention in custody
3
: a notification sent by a prosecutor, judge, or other official advising a prison official that a prisoner is wanted to answer criminal charges and requesting continued detention of the prisoner or notification of the prisoner's impending release compare extradition
Etymology
Anglo-French detenoure, from detenir to restrain, detain, from Old French, from Latin detinere
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