How much does an immigration bond cost in 2026?

There is no single price. The law sets a $1,500 minimum and no maximum: the rest is decided case by case by ICE or an immigration judge.

Amounts seen in practice

These are orders of magnitude, not an official schedule. Similar facts can draw very different amounts across courts and judges.

What moves the number

The judge weighs flight risk and danger to the community. Factors that lower the amount:

• Long continuous residence in the U.S.
• Immediate family who are citizens or residents, especially minor children.
• Steady employment, tax returns, a lease in the person's name.
• A history of attending immigration appointments and court dates.
• A pending application for relief — asylum, cancellation, a family petition — which shows a reason to appear.
• Support letters from employers, churches, schools, neighbors.

Factors that raise it or lead to denial: criminal history including arrests without conviction, multiple entries, a prior removal order, a missed hearing.

It is not a criminal bond

This is the most common and most expensive misunderstanding. In criminal court you pay a bondsman roughly 10% and that premium never comes back. In immigration, the full amount is deposited with ICE and returned at the end if the person complies.

If the family cannot raise the full amount, private immigration bond companies exist. They typically charge 15–20% of the bond, non-refundable, and usually require collateral and sometimes a monthly GPS monitor fee. On a $10,000 bond that is $1,500–$2,000 you never see again. If the family can raise the full amount, that is always the better deal.

How it is paid

• According to ICE (page updated July 1, 2026), a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident, a law firm or a non-profit organization can pay, with a document from ICE's list. That person is the obligor.
• Payment is made mainly online through CeBONDS, by Fedwire or ACH transfer only, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the detention location's time zone. Paying at an ICE office is handled case by case: call the field office first.
• The regulation and Form I-352 still mention postal money orders and cashier's checks, but ICE's current page only mentions Fedwire and ACH. Confirm with the office before you go.
• Form I-352 is the bond contract. Keep a copy.
• The obligor must keep their address current with ICE (Form I-333): the refund is sent to the address on file.

When the money comes back

When ICE cancels the bond on Form I-391. For a delivery bond, ICE cancels it if it takes the person back into custody, removes the person, or the person dies. ICE then refunds the deposit and interest to the obligor. ICE does not publish a refund timeframe; questions go to ICE's Financial Service Center Burlington (BondRefund.HelpDesk@ice.dhs.gov, 877-491-6521, option 1).

If the person fails to appear when ICE demands it or breaks the bond's conditions, ICE declares the bond breached and the deposit is forfeited. According to ICE, it still refunds the accrued interest.

If the amount is impossible

• Request a new bond hearing if circumstances changed: an approved family petition, new evidence of ties, confirmed employment.
• Appeal to the BIA within 30 days if the amount was excessive.
• Check whether mandatory detention applies. If it does, the problem is eligibility, not the amount — covered in the guide on detention and bond.

More on detention and bond:

• How to request an immigration bond
• How long ICE can detain someone
• Who is not eligible for bond (mandatory detention)
• What happens after an ICE arrest

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum immigration bond?

$1,500 by statute. No judge can set a lower amount.

Can an immigration bond be paid in installments?

Not to ICE, which requires the full amount. Private bond companies offer payment plans but charge a non-refundable premium and usually require collateral.

When is the bond money returned?

When ICE cancels the bond on Form I-391; it then refunds the deposit and interest to the obligor at the address on file. ICE does not publish a refund timeframe.