10 Things You Should Know About Immigration Bonds in 2022
🛂 10 Facts About Immigration Bonds You Need to Know in 2025
As of this year, over 18,000 individuals remain in ICE detention, many awaiting bond hearings or deportation decisions. With immigration detentions rising and legal backlogs growing, understanding how immigration bonds work has never been more important.
Here are 10 key facts about immigration bonds that every family should know—plus how to get help fast if your loved one is detained.
1. 💵 What Is an Immigration Bond?
An immigration bond is a financial guarantee paid to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to secure the temporary release of someone detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
As long as the person appears at all court hearings and complies with ICE instructions, the bond money is refunded to the payer—regardless of the final case outcome.
2. 👤 Who Is Eligible for a Bond?
Not all detainees qualify for an immigration bond. You may be ineligible if:
You’re subject to mandatory detention (often due to criminal charges)
You’re considered a flight risk or public safety threat
That said, most non-citizens without serious criminal records are eligible. If ICE initially denies bond, you can request a bond hearing before an immigration judge.
👉 Want to check eligibility? Read our bond requirements guide.
3. 🤝 You Can Pay for a Loved One
Anyone with legal status in the U.S.—a green card holder or U.S. citizen—can post bond for someone detained.
To pay a bond, you’ll need:
The detainee’s A-number, full name, and date of birth
A cashier’s check or money order (ICE doesn’t accept cash or personal checks)
Valid ID and proof of lawful presence
Keep your original payment receipt from ICE to receive a refund later.
4. 📈 Detentions Are on the Rise
ICE detentions have increased significantly in recent years. Policies such as “Remain in Mexico” and stepped-up enforcement under changing administrations have made detainment more likely, even for those with pending asylum claims or family ties.
5. 💲 Minimum Bonds Start at $1,500
By law, immigration bonds start at $1,500, but actual amounts depend on:
Criminal and immigration history
Flight risk
Family and employment ties
Prior court compliance
In practice, most bonds range from $5,000 to $20,000, though some reach $250,000.
6. 💼 You May Only Need 15% Upfront
If you can’t pay the full bond, a licensed immigration bail bondsman can help.
At Amistad Bail and Immigration Bonds, we offer:
15% premium (plus a $100 application fee)
No full cash required if you provide collateral
Fast processing and bilingual support
This option reduces the burden on families while still ensuring your loved one’s release.
7. 📉 You’ll Earn Interest on Your Refund
Once the bond is canceled by DHS, the bond amount is refunded with interest, based on federal rates (typically 0.15%–0.9%).
Refunds usually take 1–4 months, but keep your payment documents to avoid delays.
8. 🛡️ Planning Ahead Is Critical
Roughly 1 in 4 undocumented immigrants in the U.S. has been detained by ICE at some point. Having a plan in place can save weeks or months in detention.
Designate:
A trusted bond sponsor
A qualified immigration attorney
A bonds agent with experience in immigration-specific cases
9. 🕒 Court Backlogs Are Getting Worse
Immigration courts now face multi-year delays due to staffing shortages and case volume. In some cases, bond hearings or final court dates are set 4–5 years out.
Without a bond, that could mean spending years in ICE custody just to wait for a decision.
10. 🆘 Help Is Available
Programs like Freedom for Immigrants exist to help, but their capacity is limited. They’ve only helped a few hundred detainees nationwide.
For a faster solution, families often rely on trusted bail bond companies like Amistad. We provide nationwide support, transparent pricing, and flexible options to help reunite families quickly.
📞 Need Help Right Now?
Nobody deserves to sit in detention for months—or years—just waiting for a court date.
At Amistad Bail and Immigration Bonds, we help families:
Post immigration bonds quickly
Avoid detention delays
Navigate the ICE system with confidence
📞 Call (800) 537-0645
🌐 Or request a free consultation online
Let us help you bring your loved one home—fast, safe, and with clarity.
