Immigration Bond Hearings: How to Get a Family Member Out of ICE Detention

When ICE detains a family member, the first priority is usually getting them released while their immigration case moves forward. For many people, that happens through a bond hearing before an immigration judge.

What a Bond Hearing Is

An immigration judge decides whether the detained person can be released and sets the bond amount, which is paid in full to the government and generally returned at the end of the case if all hearings are attended. The judge considers two main questions: is the person a flight risk, and are they a danger to the community?

Not Everyone Is Eligible

Federal law requires detention without bond for some people, including many with certain criminal convictions. A 2025 federal law also expanded mandatory detention to certain non-citizens who are only charged with or arrested for some theft-related and other offenses. Recent policy changes and court decisions have also narrowed bond eligibility, especially for people who entered without inspection. This area of law is changing quickly and is being actively litigated, so eligibility should be evaluated case by case.

How to Build a Strong Bond Case

The strongest bond requests show stability and ties to the community. Useful evidence includes proof of address, employment and tax records, birth certificates of U.S. citizen children or spouses, letters of support from family, employers, and clergy, and evidence of any pending application for relief. A sponsor who will provide housing and make sure the person attends court also helps.

Criminal Charges Make It More Complicated

If your family member has a pending criminal case, how that case is handled can directly affect their detention and their immigration case. A plea that looks minor in criminal court can trigger mandatory detention or deportation. The criminal and immigration cases should be handled together.

If a family member has been detained by ICE, call Grott Law at (410) 449-7550 right away.