What Should You Do If You Are Arrested by Immigration and Customs?

If you are suspected of being an illegal immigrant, you may be arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You may petition for your release from Immigration Detention in a variety of ways. Read our informative guide to immigration law to learn about your rights as an immigrant in the United States. You should have your entire name, birth date, and immigration file number ready. Additionally, you should seek or get proof of any past deportation orders, criminal arrests and convictions, and copies of any immigration records. Make certain that you get knowledge that can aid you in your release. This would include confirmation of neighborhood, familial, and job links. Contact information for your local consulate is also quite useful.

If you are detained, you have numerous options for obtaining release. First, you may be qualified for bond release, which means you must pay a bail sum determined by ICE or an immigration court. You may also be eligible for release on recognizance, in which case you will not be required to post a bail. This is usually reserved for persons who have humanitarian grounds for being released, such as a serious physical condition or being the main caretaker for a small kid.

You will have a bond hearing in front of an immigration judge anyway. Provide evidence and letters of support from family members, employers, and community or religious leaders. A written statement from a sponsor stating that he or she would house and support you is also acceptable. If you have a history of criminal behavior, have a statement explaining it ready. Copies of your U.S. birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or permanent residents cards of direct relatives are also required.