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Anytime someone you care about is detained by law enforcement or gets arrested is a stressful time. However, when someone you love has been arrested on a suspected immigration violation, it is much more stressful because of the possibility of deportation.

If someone you care about was recently arrested on a potential immigration violation, then you will need to obtain an immigration bond to bail them out of jail. If you don't have any previous experience with this type of bail bond, the below information will help you understand the process and avoid potential pitfalls:

The Process When Someone Is Arrested on an Immigration Violation

When someone is arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) because they are suspected of being in the United States without the proper visa, a hearing will take place in front of a federal immigration court, and two different things can happen:

1. They can be released from custody on their own recognizance.
2. They will be asked to post an immigration bond to be released from custody

Since the possibility of being released on one's own recognizance exists, you should wait until after the bail hearing before trying to purchase a bail bond. Once a bond amount has been determined, then it is time to find a bail bond company that issues immigration bonds.

Immigration Bail Bond Basics

There are two different types of immigration bail bonds:

1. voluntary departure bonds 
2. delivery bonds

As with other bail bonds, the purpose of a delivery bond is to show the court your loved one will be returning to court for their scheduled appearance. This type of bond allows someone to get out of jail and gives them time to consult with an immigration attorney before their scheduled court date. When the detainee shows up for their court date as promised, the bail bonding company keeps the bond amount. If they do not show up to court, then the bonding agent will track them down and turn them over to ICE.

In contrast, a voluntary departure bond allows the detainee to get out of jail and leave the country of their own free will by a set date. If your loved one leaves as promised, then the bond amount will be refunded. If they do not leave, the bond amount will be forfeited to the bonding agency.

How to Obtain an Immigration Bond

To obtain an immigration bond for your detained loved one, you need to contact a bail bond agency in your local area who issues this type of bonds, such as HB Bail Bonds.