DHS sets the initial bond, and a detained respondent can ask an Immigration Judge to redetermine it. Prima.Law helps firms prepare bond requests and supporting evidence quickly.
DHS sets the initial bond. On request, the IJ may redetermine it. Requests are usually written, may be oral in most cases, and carry no filing fee.
File with the court that has jurisdiction over the place of detention. Include name, A-Number, the DHS bond amount and the detention facility.
Danger to persons or property, likelihood of appearing for future proceedings, and threat to national security. Either party may appeal to the BIA.
Bond is separate from removal, so refile documents. Matter of Yajure Hurtado (BIA 2025) bars IJ bond for people present without admission.
A person detained by DHS can be released from custody on payment of a bond. DHS sets the initial bond, and on request an Immigration Judge may hold a bond hearing to redetermine it. The judge has jurisdiction even if no charging document has been filed.
Bond proceedings are separate from removal proceedings. The request is usually written, may be oral in most cases and has no filing fee. Either party may appeal the bond decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals. A later request after a ruling must be in writing and show materially changed circumstances.
General information based on USCIS and other government guidance. Eligibility depends on each client’s facts; this is not legal advice.
A detained client may get a hearing within days, leaving little time to gather sponsor letters, proof of ties and identity documents.
How Prima.Law helps: The detailed, proven bond checklist, built by active immigration lawyers, lists every sponsor and ties document. Family upload to it through the portal and staff mark items complete.
Calls from detention are limited, family members relay messages, and updates end up on personal phones that the rest of the team cannot see.
How Prima.Law helps: Two-way SMS from the firm's Twilio number and Gmail or Outlook email are logged to the contact and case, so any staff member sees every message with family and sponsors.
Bond proceedings are kept apart from removal, so documents must be filed again in a separate packet, often the same day the hearing is set.
How Prima.Law helps: Package Assembly builds a dedicated paginated bond packet with its own table of contents, exhibit sheets and A-Number footer, ready for the court over the detention facility.
A bond case type loads steps for the request, hearing and any appeal, plus a checklist for the NTA, identity, family ties, work and community support.
Family members upload support letters, proof of residence and employment records through the client portal, straight to the bond checklist.
Bond records stay apart from removal, so assemble a dedicated paginated bond packet with its own table of contents, exhibit sheets and A-Number footer.
Reach family and sponsors by text and email logged to the case, so every update for a detained client sits in one place for the whole team.
DHS makes the initial custody decision and sets any bond. The respondent may ask an Immigration Judge for a bond hearing.
File a written request with the court over the detention facility, or ask orally where allowed. There is no filing fee.
The IJ weighs danger, flight risk and national security. Hearings are generally not recorded and are kept apart from removal.
Either party may appeal to the BIA. A later request must be written and show materially changed circumstances.
Asylum, withholding of removal and CAT claims on Form I-589 in court
LPR and non-LPR cancellation on Forms EOIR-42A and EOIR-42B
Form EOIR-26 appeals to the BIA, with the 30-day deadline and briefs
All removal defense case types in Prima.Law.
Book a demo and see how Prima.Law handles Bond Hearings cases.