What is an Immigration Bond Hearing?
If you or a loved one is detained, you may have to go to a bond hearing. Knowing that you or a loved one will have to be seen by an immigration judge can be intimidating, and if you aren’t sure what to expect, this can make your situation even scarier.
The good news is that if this describes your reality, you don’t have to face the judge alone. You are allowed to have a lawyer assist you when you or a loved one has an immigration bond hearing. The Atlanta BIA lawyers at Shirazi Immigration Law, Inc. are here for you and can help.
BIA stands for the Board of Immigration Appeal, and ensuring you have the proper representation when you must go before this administrative body is essential. The decision that the BIA makes will impact your immigration case, which is why it is advantageous to be armed with the help of an attorney when you have your day in court.
What Happens At Immigration Bond Hearings?
The bond hearing is the time when an immigration judge will consider an immigration case and determine whether or not the individual will be set a bond amount. If a bond amount is granted, then the detainee can pay the bond and be released from the detention center. If not, the detainee must remain in custody and wait for their immigration case to conclude.
When a judge is deciding on granting a bond, they will consider the following information:
- If the detainee has a criminal history, this will be evaluated.
- The judge will look at all aspects related to the detainee to see if they would be a danger to the public.
- If the detainee would be a flight risk if they were able to leave detention.
- Does the detainee have a stable history of employment?
- What community ties, family, friends, and infrastructure do the detainee have in the country?
Once a bond hearing is requested, it usually takes two to three weeks to be scheduled.
It is critical to get things done right in the initial hearing, as this is when immigration judges typically make their decisions regarding bonds. Detainees who have their bond denied at the initial hearing will find it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get another immigration bond hearing. As a result, being prepared for the first bond hearing is extremely important.
Bond hearings are different from parole requests. Bond hearings require an immigration judge to make a risk assessment on a detainee, and it involves financial considerations. By contrast, ICE officers make parole requests and base their decisions on public interest or humanitarian reasons. A parole request does not cost anything.
Speak with an Atlanta BIA Attorney Today
When you are scheduled to see an immigration judge who decides whether you can be released from detention with a bond, you can benefit from having an attorney representing your interests.
For a consultation to discuss your immigration needs and case, please call Shirazi Immigration Law, Inc. at 404-523-3611. One of our Atlanta, GA, immigration lawyers is here for you and ready to help.
Source:
justice.gov/eoir/board-of-immigration-appeals
