What is an immigration bond?
An immigration bond is money paid to ICE so that someone it is holding can be released while their immigration case continues. It works as a promise that they will come to every hearing and report whenever ICE asks. If they do, the money comes back at the end. The minimum is $1,500. The median bond set by immigration judges in early 2026 was $7,500.
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.
The three kinds of immigration bond
- Delivery bond. The common one. The person is released and the payer promises ICE that they will appear whenever ICE sends a written demand (Form I-340). This is what families mean by “ICE bond.”
- Voluntary departure bond. Set when a judge lets someone leave the country on their own by a deadline. At least $500. It comes back once they prove they left on time.
- Order of supervision bond. For some people released after a final order, to make sure they keep the conditions of their supervision.
Requirements: who can be released on bond
Three things have to be true:
- The law allows release. Bond exists for people held under section 236(a), 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a). It does not exist for people in mandatory detention under section 236(c) or with a final removal order. For people who entered without inspection, ICE’s 2025 policy says no bond at all, and whether that holds depends on the state they are held in. See did ICE end bond hearings?
- They are not a danger. Criminal history, recent arrests and their outcomes.
- They are not likely to run. Family here, years here, a fixed address, work, past court attendance, and a real case to come back for. These are the Matter of Guerra factors judges use.
Whether someone qualifies is decided twice. ICE makes the first custody decision and records it on Form I-286. The detained person can then ask an immigration judge to review it, and the judge can set, lower, raise or deny bond. See what is a bond hearing?
How much an immigration bond costs
The law sets the floor at $1,500. There is no ceiling. Medians set by immigration judges, from an analysis of immigration court data through April 2026:
- National median: $6,000 in 2025, rising to $7,500 in the first four months of 2026.
- Third and Sixth Circuits: a median of $10,000 in early 2026.
- Ninth Circuit (California, Arizona, Washington and the other western states): $7,500 in early 2026.
Getting bond at all has also become harder. Through August 2026, judges granted bond in about 30 percent of bond hearings (TRAC). What moves an amount is evidence: proof of ties, a sponsor with a stable address, and, where judges must consider it, proof of what the family can afford.
Who pays it, and how
- The obligor is the person or organization that posts the bond: a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident, a law firm, or a nonprofit. They do not have to be family.
- Payment goes to ICE, almost always online through CeBONDS, by bank transfer (ACH or Fedwire). Bonds are posted Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the detained person’s time zone.
- Release usually follows by the end of the day after ICE approves the bond.
The full walkthrough is in how to pay an immigration bond. If the amount is out of reach, a community bond fund or a bail bond company can post it. They work very differently.
Getting the money back
A cash bond comes back with interest once ICE cancels it on Form I-391. That happens when the case ends and every condition was met. Missing a hearing or ignoring an ICE demand can mean losing it. Keep every receipt and file Form I-333 whenever the obligor moves. See immigration bond refunds.
Release without a bond
Bond is not the only way out. ICE can release someone on their own recognizance with no money, release them on conditions such as check-ins or electronic monitoring, or grant parole. Where the immigration judge has no power to set bond, a federal habeas petition can win release or a bond hearing.
Questions people also ask
How much is an ICE bond?
At least $1,500, with no maximum. The national median set by immigration judges was $6,000 in 2025 and $7,500 in the first months of 2026, with higher medians in some circuits. ICE’s own initial amounts are often higher than what a judge later sets.
Can you bail someone out of an ICE detention center?
Yes, if a bond has been set. A U.S. citizen or green card holder posts it with ICE, almost always online through CeBONDS, and release usually follows within a day. If ICE set no bond, the detained person has to ask an immigration judge for one first.
Who can pay an immigration bond?
A U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, a law firm, or a nonprofit such as a community bond fund. They do not have to be related to the detained person. A Treasury-certified surety company can post one for a fee.
Is an immigration bond refundable?
A cash bond is, with interest, once ICE cancels it at the end of the case, as long as the person met every condition. A fee paid to a bail bond company is not refunded.
Check if bond may be an option for them
Check your family member’s situation to see which release options may apply, what to do next, and which documents to gather.