Noun

(en noun)

(legal) The right to keep a person, or a person's goods or property, against his will. A type of custody.

* {{quote-news, pagetitle=detainer, year=2007, date=August 21, author=Kareem Fahim, title=Presidential Candidate Blames Killings on Newark Sanctuary Policy, work=New York Times citation

, passage=On Monday, the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency placed a similar detainer on Melvin Jovel, 18, who on Sunday was the sixth person to be arrested in the case.}}

* {{quote-news, pagetitle=detainer, year=2008, date=March 23, author=Kareem Fahim, title=Immigration Referrals by Police Draw Scrutiny, work=New York Times citation

, passage=Scott Weber, the field office director for the enforcement office in Newark, said that in roughly a third of the cases, his agency would file a detainer or immigration charges; another third involved individuals who could be deported after their court cases; and the rest might be United States citizens or legal residents.}}

* {{quote-news, pagetitle=detainer, year=2008, date=April 13, author=Christine Hauser, title=U.S. Officials Are Expected to Charge Police Officer, work=New York Times citation

, passage=Officer Torres’s lawyer, Paul S. Missan, said on Saturday that he had been told by a prison official in Pennsylvania that a detainer was lodged against his client, meaning he was likely to face federal charges.}}

One who detains.

* 1840 , Ellen Pickering, Who shall be heir? (volume 1, page 146)

he chatted gaily with his fair detainer , showing no inclination to escape from the bondage in which she sought to retain him.