Difference Between Federal Bail Bonds For Immigration and Criminal Bonds

There are more than 52,000 immigrants detained by ICE in the United States. Chances are if you've turned on the news in the past year you have heard about the border crisis.

Few people truly understand how the detention process works. For example, most Americans do not know that detained immigrants can post bond.

Bail bonds for immigration are available to help American citizens get their loved ones out of ICE detention centers.

Keep reading to learn more about the difference between immigration bonds and criminal bonds. 

What are Bonds?

The lawyer for the defendant will request the defendant be released on bail and a judge will set a bail amount. Bail is essentially collateral that ensures a defendant will show up to their next court date.

Usually, this court date is their sentencing hearing. If they don't show up, they forfeit their collateral.

Bail can be cash or a deed to property equaling the monetary value of the bail amount. When a defendant doesn't have enough money or property to post bail, they turn to a bail bondsman.

The defendant purchases a bond, which is given to the court in exchange for their release. Let's take a look at the difference between a criminal bond and an immigration bond.

Criminal Bonds

Most people have a basic idea of how a criminal bond works.

Bail bondsmen set up shop near jails. If a defendant in a criminal action can't make bail on their own, a bail bonds company will provide the bail at a price.

These types of bonds are exclusive to criminal cases. The defendant in these matters has to pay the bail bondsman part of the total bail amount, at least 10 percent.

They must also offer some form of collateral. The bail bondsman pays the court only part of the total bail amount.

If the defendant skips out on their court hearing, the bail bondsman is responsible for the rest of the amount of the bail. 

Bail Bonds for Immigration

Immigration bonds are quite different than criminal bonds.

In fact, most people haven't even heard of an immigration bond. Immigration bonds cover the cost of the set bail for a defendant being detained by immigration rather than by a county jail.

There are different rules for immigration bonds. For one, they have to be paid by a legal citizen of the United States.

They also use different payment methods than criminal bonds. They must be paid in full and partial payments can't be made.

They also must be paid in person at an ICE office with a cashier's check or a post office money order. 

Help with the Immigration Bond Process

If you are interested in learning more about bail bonds for immigration or are seeking an immigration bail bond for a relative, friend, or employee, contact us today.

The immigration bail bond process can be confusing and difficult to navigate as it is not the same as the process for obtaining a criminal bond.

For more information about how we can help you, check out our website.