Court Procedure & Immigration Bond Conditions

Like state and federal bonds, immigration bonds are designed to guarantee the appearance of the detainee at all hearings before the Immigration Court. Immigration bonds are immediately forfeited (given up) if the detainee does not appear for a required hearing.

Not all detainees are allowed to be released on bond. Depending on their immigration status and/or criminal history, certain persons may be subject to mandatory detention. A person subject to mandatory detention must fight against deportation from inside detention.

Generally persons who are not "arriving aliens," criminals, or terrorists are allowed to apply for a bond.

Usually when you are taken into custody by ICE, your bond will be set by ICE. Sometimes ICE may release you on your own "recognizance." This means you do not have to pay a bond. Even if you did not have to pay a bond to be released, you must show up for all hearings before the Immigration Court.

If ICE does not set a bond for you, you can apply for a bond determination hearing with an Immigration Judge. You do not have to wait for ICE to issue a Notice to Appear (NTA)—you can apply for a bond as soon as you are taken into custody.

If ICE sets your bond in an amount that you think is too high, you can apply for a bond redetermination hearing with an Immigration Judge. But you should be careful in asking for this hearing—the Immigration Judge may reset your bond in an amount higher than the one set by ICE.

In determining the amount of your bond, the Immigration Judge usually looks at these things:

• Your family ties in the United States;
• Your criminal history;
• Your employment;
• Your financial ability to pay a bond;
• Your membership in community organizations;
• How you came to, and how long you have been in, the United States;
• Whether you have committed any immoral acts or participated in subversive activities; and
• Your eligibility for relief from removal.

The Immigration Judge is not allowed to set a bond below $1,500.00. This means that if a bond is set for you, it will be at least $1,500.00. After the Immigration Judge sets your bond (or decides that you are not eligible for bond), you may appeal the Immigration Judge’s decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals.

If, after your bond redetermination hearing, you still disagree with your bond amount, you can apply for another bond redetermination hearing. However, you can only apply for another bond redetermination hearing if your circumstances have significantly changed since your prior bond redetermination hearing.

Your bond case is separate from your immigration case. However, even if you get released on bond, you must show up for all hearings before the Immigration Court.

It is important for you to understand that a bond hearing does not stop your immigration case. No matter what the judge decides in your bond case, and whether or not you appeal that decision, your immigration case continues. For example, if you have an immigration (or “removal”) hearing scheduled for two days from now, and at a bond hearing today, the judge sets a bond in your case, you will still have an immigration hearing two days from now, as long as your bond has not been paid by then. If you pay your bond and give the judge a paper asking to have your immigration case continued at a different location (near where you live in the United States), you will not have an immigration hearing two days from now, but you will have another immigration hearing in the near future.

Once a judge makes a decision about your bond, the decision is final. You do have the right to appeal unless the judge made a legal mistake.

1. Identification
2. Immigration Detainer
3. In ICE / DHS Custody
4. The ICE Investigation
5. The Court Procedure & Posting The Immigration Bond