What is an Immigration Bond?
Immigration bonds are surety bonds that ensure a person detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will attend all of their required court appearances. These bonds are also known as ICE Form I-352 or ICE Form I-305.
How Do Immigration Bonds Work?
Immigration bonds are posted by a licensed bail bond agent authorized to provide immigration bond services. The agent will typically charge a non-refundable fee of 10-15% of the total bond amount. The Department of Homeland Security sets this fee, which cannot be negotiated.
Once the bond has been posted, the person who has been detained will be released from custody. However, they must attend all their court appearances as scheduled. If they fail to appear, the bond will be forfeited, and the bond agent will be responsible for paying the total amount of the bond.
There are two main types of immigration bonds: delivery and voluntary departure. Delivery bonds are the most common type. They are posted on behalf of a person detained by ICE and require a release from custody. The purpose of a delivery bond is to ensure that the person who has been released will attend all of their required court appearances.
Voluntary departure bonds are posted on behalf of a person a judge has ordered to leave the country voluntarily. This type of bond allows the person to leave the country at their own expense and within a set timeframe. If they fail to leave the country, the bond will be forfeited.
Factors That Determine the Cost of an Immigration Bond
The cost of an immigration bond is determined by various factors, including the bond amount, the person’s criminal history, and flight risk.
The Department of Homeland Security sets the minimum bond amount at $1,500, but the actual bond amount can be much higher depending on the circumstances.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about immigration bonds, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help.
