Immigration bonds, or delivery bonds, are a type of surety bond issued by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to secure the release of non-citizens from immigration detention. These bonds are designed to ensure that a detained non-citizen shows up for court hearings and any other scheduled immigration proceedings. When a person is taken into custody by ICE, they have the right to request an immigration bond hearing within seven days of arrest. At this hearing, an immigration judge will determine the amount that must be paid to secure their release while they wait for their court dates.
The amount of an immigration bond can vary significantly depending on factors such as criminal history, past deportation orders, and flight risk. Generally speaking, if no criminal history is present and there are no issues with flight risk, the bond cost can range from $1,500 to $25,000. However, if there is any criminal history or evidence of flight risk, the bond amount can be over $25,000 or even higher. Suppose you cannot pay for your bond. In that case, you may be eligible for assistance from a nonprofit organization or a community support group that provides legal services related to immigration bonds.
Once the court has set an immigration bond, it must be paid in full before ICE can release it. The party paying the bond must provide proof that they are either a US citizen or resident alien to qualify as a “responsible party” who will guarantee they will show up for all scheduled court dates and comply with all other requirements placed upon them by ICE officials. Once approved as a responsible party, they must ensure all required documentation is signed and submitted along with payment for the bond amount before ICE will be released from detention..
In addition to ensuring that a detained person appears at their court date(s) and complies with all other requirements placed upon them by ICE officials, paying an immigration bail bond also requires that any fines or fees associated with their case must also be paid in full before they can be released from detention. Failure to do so could result in the revocation of their bail amount, which would cost more money than was initially paid out when posting bail. Not all individuals who post bail through an immigration bond company are guaranteed release from detention; some may remain detained due to serious charges or past criminal activities, regardless of whether bail has been posted.
