How Do I Request a Bond Hearing in an Immigration Case?

If you find yourself in immigration detention and believe that you are eligible for bond, you might be wondering when and how your bond hearing will be scheduled; that is, the hearing at which an immigration judge will decide whether you should be released from immigration detention while your case is pending and how much money (if any) you must pay in order to be released.

Bond hearings are separate from your normal immigration court proceedings. They have nothing to do with the ultimate question of whether a judge will determine that you can remain in the United States instead of being deported. In fact, if you wish to request a bond hearing, you must take active steps to do so—no one will offer you one otherwise.

Where Can I Find Out Information on My Bond Hearing?

It is up to you to request bond. Unlike your immigration court proceeding, you do not receive information from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or the Immigration Court regarding your bond hearing.

Some immigration judges may choose to discuss bond eligibility with detained immigrants, but this is largely dependent on the individual judge. Furthermore, while you can discover information about your pending immigration case by calling the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) hotline (1-800-898-7180), information about your bond hearing will not be available over the phone.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) might, however, have set an initial bond amount when it first detained you. You can see this initial bond determination by reviewing your ICE Form I-286, if you received a copy.

What Are the Ways I Can Request a Bond Hearing?

There are several ways to go about requesting a bond hearing. First, make sure you haven't requested one already. You might have done so by checking a box in Form I-286 that states, "I do…request a redetermination of this custody decision by an immigration judge" and "I acknowledge receipt of this notification."

If you do not have a copy of your Form I-286 or are not sure how to obtain it, however, it is fine to file a separate request for a bond hearing.

You can request a bond hearing in writing and send it to the Immigration Court that has jurisdiction over your case. You can also request your bond hearing orally, while at your first (or even a subsequent) Master Calendar hearing in immigration court.

If you request a bond hearing in writing, you should include a copy of your Notice to Appear or NTA (if you have received it). Also include your full name, your alien registration number (A-number), and the facility where you are detained. You do not need to include a fee payment.

At your bond hearing, you will need to file evidence in support of your request to be released, such as:

• a letter of support from your sponsor
• proof of eligibility for immigration relief
• evidence of good moral character, and
• proof of community ties.

You need not file your supporting evidence in advance of your bond hearing, but can do so if you want.

At your Master Calendar hearing, you can make an oral request, in which case you do not need to submit anything in writing. The Immigration Judge will either stop your current proceeding and conduct the bond hearing immediately, finish your current proceeding and conduct a bond hearing afterwards, or calendar your bond hearing for another date. This decision is up to the Immigration Judge.

If your bond hearing is scheduled for a different date, the court will schedule it as soon as possible. Unlike your immigration proceeding, your bond hearing is less formal and not recorded. Moreover, the evidence submitted in your bond hearing is considered separate from the evidence and record of your immigration court proceeding.

In rare cases, the Immigration Judge might also allow detainees to request bond by telephone. You can find the phone numbers for each Immigration Court at www.justice.gov/eoir.

Factors to Consider When Requesting an Immigration Bond

If you request a bond hearing, be prepared to move forward with demonstrating your eligibility immediately. Do not file your request for a bond hearing if you do not yet have your evidence and witnesses available. If you make an oral motion for bond at your Master Calendar hearing, the judge will move forward with your bond proceeding that same day or shortly afterwards. If you submit a written request, the bond hearing will likewise be scheduled soon.

Typically, you have only one chance to make your case for bond. Therefore, it is essential to be well prepared. Otherwise, if the judge denies bond or sets the amount too high, you could be detained during the entire time your immigration case is being decided upon (including any appeals).

If you are not prepared to move forward with your bond hearing right away, simply inform the judge that you need more time to gather evidence, and the judge will probably grant your request.

Only in very limited circumstances can you request a second bond hearing. In order to do so, you would need to show that your circumstances changed significantly since the immigration judge's last decision. This request can be submitted only in writing.

Finally, while you do have the option to appeal the Immigration Judge's bond determination to the Board of Immigration Appeals (B.I.A.), the judge's decision will stand in the meantime. If you are in detention, you will remain in detention until the B.I.A. makes a decision.

Getting Legal Help

If you are in deportation proceedings, it is essential to contact an experienced immigration attorney as soon as possible to discuss your potential options. Not only will you be facing a judge who might not be friendly, but the U.S. government will be represented by its own attorney, presenting complex legal arguments for why you should be held in detention and then removed from the United States.