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Bond and immigration court basics

How to check the case and how bond works, with official links.

First: this is civil detention

ICE detention is civil, not a criminal sentence. There is no sentence to serve, so there are no sentence credits (good time) and no release date to calculate. Release depends on the immigration case: a bond, an immigration judge's decision, or an ICE decision.

There is no right to a free lawyer in immigration court. The law allows a lawyer "at no expense to the Government" (8 U.S.C. 1362 (opens in new tab)). Look for free or low-cost help on the EOIR list of pro bono providers (opens in new tab) and from accredited representatives (opens in new tab).

Watch for scams: a "notario" is not a lawyer in the U.S. Don't pay anyone who promises results. How to spot a scam.

General information, not legal advice. Every case is different.

Immigration court case status

EOIR automated case status line: 1-800-898-7180. Toll-free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in English and Spanish. (source: EOIR) (opens in new tab)

Bond basics

  • ICE may set a bond, and in many cases the person can ask an immigration judge for a bond hearing to review custody or the amount (8 CFR 1236.1 (opens in new tab); 8 CFR 1003.19 (opens in new tab)). The law makes some people ineligible.
  • Bond hearings are separate from the main removal case.
  • To pay: ICE uses CeBONDS (Post a Bond) (opens in new tab). U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, law firms and nonprofits can post a delivery bond; ICE asks for a document proving the payer is eligible.
  • The person who pays (the "obligor") guarantees that the detained person meets the conditions, like going to every hearing. If they don't, the money can be lost.
  • Pay only through official ICE channels. Don't give money to anyone who says they can "fix" a bond.

For hearings

  • Write down each date and court the EOIR system shows, and check again, because they change.
  • Applications the judge asks for are filed directly with the immigration court.
  • Find a lawyer or accredited representative before the hearing: legal help.

Sources: ICE, the Justice Department's Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), USCIS, and the laws and rules linked above. Checked 2026-10-21.

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