IMMIGRATION
BONDS

An immigration bond allows a detained individual to be released from ICE custody while their immigration case proceeds in court. Unlike criminal bonds, immigration bonds are controlled by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the immigration courts, and the rules are extremely different — and rapidly changing.

Bonds are not automatic. In most cases, your loved one must win a bond hearing before an immigration judge.

At that hearing, the burden is on us to prove two things:

The person is not a danger to the community, and
The person is not a flight risk and will appear at future hearings.

This requires evidence, planning, and experienced representation — because ICE will argue the opposite.

CEDILLO LAW FIRM

When a loved one is detained by ICE, time becomes everything.

An ICE detention is one of the most frightening experiences a family can face. In an instant, a routine traffic stop, a background check, or an encounter with local law enforcement can result in your loved one being transferred into federal custody — often without clear information, without a timeline, and without the chance to come home.

At Cedillo Law Firm, we fight to bring families back together.
Our team handles bond hearings, mandatory detention challenges, ICE detainers, custody reviews, and Federal habeas litigation when the government wrongfully claims that a person should not be released.

What Is an Immigration Bond?

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How We Win Immigration Bond Hearings

Bond hearings are fast, contested, and evidence-driven. Our approach includes:

Preparing the detained client for testimony
Submitting supporting documents (ID, proof of residence, employment records, tax records, church/community letters,
affidavits)
Bringing in family witnesses when appropriate
Challenging ICE’s allegations point-by-point
Demonstrating community ties, hardship, and rehabilitation
Addressing any criminal history with accurate legal analysis
Showing compliance with prior court obligations
Presenting a release plan that satisfies the judge

Bond success is about showing the whole person, not just the government’s allegation sheet.

When DHS Said “No Bond,” We Took the Case
to Federal Court and we Won

Recently, the government — and even the Board of Immigration Appeals — claimed that one of our clients was mandatorily detained, meaning the immigration judge supposedly had no power to set a bond at all.

Our client had entered without inspection and was being treated as someone Congress had “locked out” of bond eligibility.

We refused to accept this.

We filed a federal habeas petition in U.S. District Court challenging the government’s interpretation of the detention statute. The federal judge agreed with us and issued an order requiring the immigration judge to conduct a bond hearing by a deadline, or release the client altogether.

This victory is life-changing for our client and family — and it shows the lengths we will go when DHS misapplies the law. When immigration judges say their hands are tied, we know how to take the fight into federal court.

Bond Law Is Changing — Fast

Immigration bond law is currently in a period of rapid, unpredictable change:

The BIA has recently issued rulings that severely restrict bond eligibility.
DHS is aggressively arguing for mandatory detention in more categories.
Immigration judges are increasingly hesitant to grant bond without exceptionally strong evidence.
Rules and policies are shifting under the current administration — sometimes every few weeks.

This means that a bond case today is not the same as a bond case last month.
And a bond case next month may look different again.

At Cedillo Law Firm, we stay ahead of the changes by tracking every BIA decision, every federal case, and every policy shift. When necessary, we take cases into federal court to protect our clients’ rights.

IMMIGRATION BOND FAQ — What Families Need to Know

How do you get an immigration bond?

Your loved one must normally have a bond hearing before an immigration judge.
At that hearing, we present evidence showing:

They are not a danger
They are not a flight risk
They have strong ties in the community
They will appear for every future hearing

The judge then decides whether to grant a bond and, if so, the amount.

How much does an immigration bond cost?

Most bonds fall between $5,000 and $20,000 — though the law allows for much higher amounts.
The bond can be:

Paid in cash, directly to ICE (returned at the end of the case if the person appears), OR
Paid through a specialized federal immigration bondsman, who typically requires a percentage of the amount plus collateral.

We guide families through both options and connect them with trusted, reputable federal bondsmen.

Can every detained person get a bond?

No.
Some individuals are considered “mandatory detention” under immigration law.

BUT — ICE and immigration judges frequently get this wrong.

We evaluate:

The criminal charge
The offense level
Date of conviction
Whether the charge is actually a deportable offense
Whether the statute matches the federal immigration definition
Whether the detention statute even applies

If DHS is wrong, we challenge it — and we have taken mandatory-detention cases to federal court and won.

Is an immigration bond the same as a criminal bond?

No.
Immigration bonds follow federal rules, not Texas rules, and ICE can detain someone even if the criminal case is dismissed.

Criminal court determines guilt.
Immigration court determines removability.
Bond hearings sit in their own category.

If the bond is approved, how fast can my loved one be released?

It depends on the detention facility, the processing schedule, and whether the bond is paid in cash or through a bondsman.
Many clients are released within 24–72 hours after payment.

Is it worth hiring an attorney for a bond hearing?

Absolutely.
Bond hearings are one of the most important moments in an immigration case, and they often decide:

Whether a client fights their case from home or from detention
Whether they can gather evidence
Whether they can consult freely with counsel
Whether they can continue to support their family
Whether they can pursue relief like 42A, 42B, or adjustment

Winning bond is often the turning point that determines the outcome of the entire case.

Contact Cedillo Law Firm for Immigration Bond Help

If your loved one is in jail with an ICE hold, we take immediate action:

Contact ICE
Review bond eligibility
Request an immigration bond hearing
Challenge mandatory detention
Coordinate between criminal court and immigration court
Fight to get the client released

We have secured numerous ICE bond victories that allowed clients to reunite with their families and continue fighting their cases from outside detention.