How to write a letter to an immigration judge (with sample)
Address it to “Dear Immigration Judge” or “Dear Judge [last name],” keep it to one page of specific facts in your own words, sign it, and date it. Do not mail it to the judge. An immigration judge cannot consider anything about a case that the government lawyer does not also receive, so letters go in as exhibits filed in the case, with a copy to the government. Here is how to write one, from family or from the detained person, and how it gets there.
This is information, not legal advice.
This guide explains the general rules. What they mean for your family member depends on their circumstances. Answer a few questions to check their situation.
Two kinds of letter
- A letter from someone who knows the detained person: family, friends, an employer. Their job is facts about the person’s life here. The detailed guides are letter of support from family, from a friend, character reference, and the sponsor letter.
- A letter from the detained person themselves: a personal statement in their own words. It explains who they are, takes responsibility for anything in their past, and says what they will do if released.
How to address the judge
Write “Dear Immigration Judge,” or “Dear Judge [last name],” if you know the judge’s name. The court’s practice manual says immigration judges are addressed as “Your Honor” or “Judge” plus their name (Practice Manual 3.3). Near the top, give the detained person’s full name and A-number so the letter is matched to the right case.
Why you should not mail it to the judge
Immigration judges cannot have one-sided communications about a case. Anything written about a case has to be served on the other side, the government lawyer. A letter sent straight to the court by a relative can be set aside unread. The right path is to give the letter to the detained person, or to whoever is preparing their evidence. They file it as an exhibit with the bond request or before the hearing, with a copy to the government lawyer and a certificate saying so. See sample motion for a bond hearing for how the packet is put together.
Sample letter from a family member
[Your full name, address, phone]
[Date]Dear Immigration Judge,
Re: [full name], A-number [000-000-000]
My name is [name], and I am [relationship]. I respectfully ask the Court to release [first name] while their case is decided.
[Two or three specific facts: how long they have lived here, their work, what they do for the family, who depends on them.]
[What their detention has meant for the family, concretely.]
If released, [first name] will live at [address] with [names]. I will make sure they attend every hearing and every appointment with immigration.
Thank you for considering this letter.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct.
Signature: ____________________
[Printed name]
Sample letter from the detained person
[Full name], A-number [000-000-000]
[Detention facility]
[Date]Dear Immigration Judge,
My name is [name]. I have lived in [city] since [year]. I am writing to ask to be released while my case is decided.
[Your life here: family, work, community, in specifics.]
[If there is something in your past: what happened, that you take responsibility, and what you have done since. Do not argue the facts of a conviction here.]
If I am released, I will live at [address] with [names]. I will attend every hearing and report to immigration whenever I am told. [Why you are sure you will: your case to stay, your children, your job.]
Thank you, Your Honor.
Signature: ____________________
Anything the detained person writes can be used in their case. The letter should be truthful, take responsibility where it is due, and stay away from describing how they entered the country or other facts about the deportation charges unless they have decided to address them.
Tone and format
- One page. Respectful, plain, specific. No legal arguments, no anger at the government.
- Sign by hand and date it. A penalty-of-perjury line makes a family letter a sworn statement; no notary needed.
- Not in English? File it with a complete English translation and the translator’s signed certificate (8 C.F.R. § 1003.33).
- Keep a copy of everything you send.
Questions people also ask
How do you address an immigration judge in a letter?
“Dear Immigration Judge” or “Dear Judge” followed by the judge’s last name. In the courtroom, an immigration judge is addressed as “Your Honor.” Refer to the detained person by full name and A-number at the start.
Can I mail a letter directly to an immigration judge?
No. Immigration judges cannot have one-sided communications about a case. Anything written about a case has to be served on the government lawyer too. Give your letter to the detained person or whoever is preparing their evidence so it can be filed properly.
Will an immigration judge read a letter from a family member?
Yes, when it is filed as evidence. Judges read the letters in the record, and in discretionary decisions like bond, specific firsthand letters can make a difference.
Can a letter to the judge stop a deportation?
A letter alone cannot change what the law allows. It is evidence for the parts of a case where the judge has discretion, such as bond, cancellation of removal or voluntary departure.
See which ways out may be open for them
Check your family member’s situation to see which release options may apply, what to do next, and which documents to gather.