Bond hearings
Immigration bonds and release from detention
Fianzas de inmigración
When someone you love is picked up by ICE, the first question is whether they can come home while the case goes on. We find out fast and tell you the truth.
Someone was picked up today? Call the 24-hour line first. Reading can wait.
(704) 555-0119This page is for you if
- A family member was detained by ICE in the last few days
- ICE set a bond amount you cannot pay, or set no bond at all
- You were told the person is not eligible for bond and want a second look
- The person was moved to a detention center far from home
In plain words
A bond is money paid to the government so a detained person can be released while their case continues. It is returned at the end of the case if the person goes to every hearing and follows the rules.
Sometimes ICE sets a bond itself. Other times a lawyer asks an immigration judge for a bond hearing, where we show the judge that the person is not a danger and will come to court: family ties, a steady job, a home address, people willing to speak for them.
Not everyone can get a bond hearing. The rules on who qualifies have changed in the last year and are being challenged in federal court. When a bond hearing is not available, we look at other ways to ask for release, including a habeas petition in federal court.
How it works with us
- 1 Find the person We use the ICE detainee locator and our own calls to confirm where they are held and who their deportation officer is.
- 2 Check eligibility the same day We look at the person's history and the current rules, and tell you plainly whether a bond hearing is possible.
- 3 Build the bond packet Letters from family, employers and church, proof of address, and the documents that show the person is rooted here.
- 4 The hearing Usually short and often by video. We argue for release and for an amount the family can actually pay.
- 5 Release and the next step We explain who pays the bond and how, what conditions come with release, and what happens next in the removal case.
Start gathering
What to bring to your evaluation
- The person's full name, date of birth and country, spelled the way it is on their documents
- The A-number, if you have it
- Letters of support with the writer's phone number and a copy of their ID
- Proof of a home address: a lease, a mortgage or a letter from the homeowner
- Pay stubs or a letter from an employer
Copies or phone photos are fine. Never mail us your only original.
The honest part
What we will not pretend
- Some people are held under mandatory detention and cannot get bond at all. We will tell you if that is the case.
- A judge can deny bond, or set an amount higher than the family hoped. We prepare you for both.
- A bond company is not a law firm. Paying a company to post bond does not get anyone a lawyer for the case.
- Transfers happen fast. A detained person can be moved to another state within days, which can change the court.
Questions people ask us
All questionsHow fast can you get a bond hearing?
It depends on the court and the detention center. Some hearings happen within a week of the request, others take longer. We file the request as soon as the packet is ready and tell you each date as soon as we know it.
Who can pay the bond?
Usually a family member or friend with lawful status pays the bond at an ICE office and becomes the obligor, the person responsible for making sure the detained person goes to court. We explain the obligor's duties before anyone signs.
Does getting out on bond end the case?
No. Release on bond means the person can wait at home while the removal case goes on. The defense case still has to be won in court.
This page is general information, not legal advice for your situation. Immigration law changes often. Talk to a lawyer about your own facts before you act.
Often part of the same case
Free case evaluation
Get an honest bond eligibility read today.
The first 30-minute case evaluation is free, by phone, video or in person, in English or Spanish.
Urgent
Someone detained, or a court date soon?
(704) 555-0119Answered 24 hours a day, in English and Spanish.
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