If you’re burst by the ICE living illegally in the U.S., an immigration bond hearing is required to determine if you’re in violation of the federal immigration law. These law enforcement officers will typically detain suspects until they appear before an immigration judge at an initial bond hearing. After that, you can check if you are eligible for a San Angelo immigration bond.
That said, here’s everything you need to know about immigration bond hearings.
General Bond Requirements
Although there can be some variation, your immigration bond hearing will happen in an ICE courtroom within the detention facility. You’ll meet with one or more government attorneys at the hearing who will ask questions regarding the current circumstances. This information will help them make a bond decision. However, they will cross-examine you and your witnesses to make sure you’re not lying.
If you’re hoping to be released while awaiting deportation proceedings, it is imperative that you understand what the prosecutor expects of you. For example, you can bring a friend or relative who will promise to pay your bond. This person signs an affidavit of support because they’re essentially vouching for you.
If ICE has arrested you and you’re currently in jail, check with the jailer to see if you are eligible for a bond. This information should provide you with some idea of what will happen in the bond hearing so you can make the necessary arrangements.
Know What to Bring
Bring a copy of your green card or visa to the hearing if you have one. If you show up without it, the judge may give authorization to the ICE to produce it within 24 hours and release you on bond pending deportation proceedings.
Before the hearing, it is important to consult with an experienced immigration lawyer to answer any questions you might have about the upcoming proceedings. That includes what may happen during the hearing and how to answer questions directed to you. They will also advise you on how to get the bond amount on credit and whether you need a co-signer. In some cases, an immigration lawyer can actually show up for the hearing in your place, which is worth considering if you are not very confident.
You’ll want to bring as much evidence as possible to help you convince a judge to release you while awaiting deportation. And you might even get an affordable bond if you bring the right representation to the hearing. Also, don’t forget to bring any hard evidence of hardships you might experience if you’re detained before a final decision is made.
What Does the Judge Want From You?
The judge wants to know if you are a potential risk if given a chance to pay bond while awaiting deportation proceedings. For example, if an immigrant is being turned in by her spouse because of domestic abuse, the judge might choose to deny bond. And if they allow it, they set it so high that the accused will not afford it.
However, if an immigrant student has recently graduated high school and is working in the United States, judges typically allow them bond while awaiting their immigration hearing.
The information you provide will often play a major role in determining how much bond you’ll pay as well as how long the hearing will stay. And that’s where a good lawyer comes in handy.
Get Good Representation
A lawyer can explore loopholes in your immigration case and hopefully help you win the deportation proceedings. They’ll help you understand everything going on and make sure that your side of the story is presented in a clean, professional manner. Also, an attorney knows how to interpret legal documents, ask the right questions, and delay the proceedings if things are not going too well.
Having an experienced immigration attorney on your side can make all the difference. This is especially true for people who don’t know a lot about immigration laws or how to get a bond while awaiting deportation proceedings.
For those who are detained by ICE and facing deportation proceedings, a bond hearing is often the first step towards release. It’s important to understand what may happen during these hearings so you can prepare in advance for your own immigration case. A good way to do this is with an experienced lawyer who will help you navigate through all the legal documents as well as represent your side of the story professionally at court.