Sponsor letter for an immigration bond: what it says (with sample)
The sponsor letter comes from the person the detained person will live with if released. It tells the judge where they will sleep, who will support them, and how they will get to every hearing. Legal aid groups call it the most important document at a bond hearing. It answers five questions in the sponsor’s own words, it is signed under penalty of perjury, and it comes with proof of the address.
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.
Sponsor, obligor, and everyone else
- The sponsor is the person the detained person will live with. Their letter shows the judge a fixed address and a stable home, two of the strongest facts at a bond hearing.
- The obligor is whoever posts the bond money with ICE. That person must be a U.S. citizen or green card holder, a law firm, or a nonprofit. The sponsor and the obligor can be the same person, but they do not have to be. See how to pay an immigration bond.
- Everyone else writes letters of support or character letters.
No rule says the sponsor must be a citizen or green card holder. A sponsor who is one should say so and can attach proof; it helps. A sponsor without status does not have to put their status in writing. The letter will be in the court file the government lawyer reads.
The five things a sponsor letter answers
- Who you are to them, and how long you have known them. Relationship, years, how often you are together.
- Where they will live, and who else lives there. The full street address (not a P.O. box), how long you have lived there, and every person in the home.
- How you will support them while the case goes on: housing, food, transportation, help finding work if they are allowed to work.
- How you will make sure they get to every hearing. Rides, reminders, checking the court’s case information line, going with them.
- Why you are willing to do this. In your own words.
Answer each in a short paragraph. If you cannot honestly answer one, leave that paragraph out. A four-paragraph letter that is true is better than five paragraphs with one stretched.
Sample sponsor letter
[Your full name]
[Street address, city, state, ZIP]
[Phone number]
[Date]Dear Immigration Judge,
I am writing about [full name], A-number [000-000-000], who is being held by immigration, to ask that they be released while their case goes on. I will be their sponsor.
Who I am to them: I am [their relationship] and have known them for [number] years. [One or two sentences on your relationship.] [Optional: I am a U.S. citizen / lawful permanent resident; proof is attached.]
Where they would live: If released, [first name] will live with me at [full street address], where I have lived since [year]. The other people in the home are [names and relationships].
How I will support them: [Housing and food at no cost to them; transportation; anything else, e.g., I work as a ___ and earn ___ a month.]
How I will make sure they attend every hearing: [I will drive them to the immigration court in ___; I will keep every date on my calendar and check the court’s case information line; I will make sure they report to ICE whenever required.]
Why I am willing to do this: [In your own words.]
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]
What to attach
- A copy of your photo ID.
- Proof of the address in your name: a lease, a mortgage statement, a utility bill, or a bank statement showing the address. This is the attachment judges look for.
- Proof of income if you will support them: recent pay stubs or a tax return.
- Proof of citizenship or a green card, only if you have one and choose to include it.
- If the home is rented and the lease is not in your name, a short letter from the landlord saying who lives there.
Mistakes that weaken a sponsor letter
- An address that does not match. The address in the letter, on the bill, on the bond worksheet and in the motion must be the same, down to the apartment number.
- Promising what you cannot do, like a job you cannot actually offer.
- A letter written by someone else in language that is not yours. Judges notice.
- Leaving out the other people in the home. The judge may ask.
Getting it into the case
The signed letter and its attachments go in the bond packet, usually first after the worksheet. They are filed with the bond request or handed up at the hearing, with a copy to the government lawyer. Do not mail the letter to the judge directly. If it is written in another language, file it with a full English translation and the translator’s signed certificate. The full packet is laid out in sample motion for a bond hearing.
Questions people also ask
Does a sponsor for an immigration bond have to be a U.S. citizen?
No rule requires it. A sponsor who is a citizen or green card holder should say so and can attach proof, which helps. A sponsor without status does not have to state it. The person who pays the bond to ICE (the obligor) is different: that person must be a citizen or green card holder, a law firm, or a nonprofit.
Is the sponsor the same as the person who pays the bond?
Not necessarily. The sponsor is who the detained person will live with. The obligor is who posts the money with ICE. They can be the same person or different people.
What documents should the sponsor attach?
A copy of their photo ID and proof of the address in their name, such as a lease, a mortgage statement or a utility bill. If they are a citizen or green card holder, proof of that helps. Proof of income helps if they will support the person.
Does a sponsor letter need to be notarized?
No. Signing it under penalty of perjury makes it a sworn declaration. A notary adds nothing the court requires.
Check if bond is 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.