Immigration Bond Hearings: How to Get Out of ICE Detention
If a family member is detained by ICE, a bond hearing before an immigration judge is often the fastest way to secure their release while their immigration case proceeds. Not everyone is eligible for bond, but many are — and the decision can make a life-changing difference.
Reviewed by Gracie Johnson, Certified Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law, State Bar of California, California State Bar #276536
Last reviewed: July 2, 2026
When ICE detains someone, they may initially set an administrative bond or deny bond entirely. The detainee can request a bond redetermination hearing before an immigration judge. At the bond hearing, the judge evaluates two main factors: whether the person is a flight risk (unlikely to appear for future hearings) and whether they are a danger to the community.
Factors that help lower bond or argue for release include: family ties to the US (citizen or LPR spouses, children, or parents); length of continuous residence in the US; employment history; community ties (church, school, work); prior immigration compliance; and lack of criminal history. Factors that hurt include: prior deportation orders, criminal history, missing prior hearings, and prior use of false documents.
The minimum immigration bond is $1,500. Bonds are often set at $3,000 to $15,000 or higher depending on the case. The bond must be paid in full (not a percentage) to the ICE ERO (Enforcement and Removal Operations) office. A family member or immigration bond company can pay the bond.
Acting fast matters. The sooner you contact an attorney after a detention, the sooner we can file for the bond hearing. Call Gracie Johnson Law at (310) 554-4630 immediately if a family member is detained.
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Also available in Spanish: Audiencias de Fianza de Inmigración: Cómo Salir de la Detención de ICE