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Scam Practices of Immigration Bondsmen

June 30, 2017 by Brittni Swenson

When ICE detains a family member, it quickly becomes a stressful time for everyone. Emotions are running high. You’re stressed about finances and getting your loved one released as soon as possible. It is in these times when families are high strung that some immigration bondsmen will take advantage and run their scam tactics. Here are some of the costly scams to be wary of when selecting an immigration bondsman in Fort Lauderdale:

The Bait and Switch

Some immigration bondsman may advertise prices lower than the standard 10% minimum premium that most states require. For example, you’re seeking out an immigration bondsman in Fort Lauderdale and come across an agency that requires you only pay 7% of the bond amount. This sounds great, but this tactic is only designed to lure families in distress through the doors. Once you begin to sign the paperwork, you may learn that the 7% is in fact the initial amount that needs to be paid, while the rest of the bond is covered through financing with high interest rates. Those high interest rates can cause you to pay more over time than you would had you gone to US Immigration Bonds to acquire the help of a bondsman.

Forcing Clients into Unethical Regulations

While not common, and certainly not a practice of US Immigration Bonds of Fort Lauderdale, some immigration bondsmen will attempt to force the individual posting the bond (Obligor) into unethical, but not illegal, contracts. For example, one immigration bonds company in Virginia forced detained immigrants to wear ankle bracelets at a charge of $420 a month. This served to ensure that they did not attempt to flee trial, however it is also unethical and discriminatory treatment.

How to Deal with an ICE Hold

June 22, 2017 by Brittni Swenson

What is an ICE hold?

After an individual has been arrested by a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement have the authority to issue a Form I-247, Immigration Detainer- Notice of Action, better known as an “ICE Hold.” An ICE hold serves as notice to law enforcement that ICE retains the right to take that individual into custody after they are released.

What are your options when facing an ICE hold?

The common misconception for people facing ICE holds is that they have no choice but to take the initial plea bargain. Law enforcement officials will often inform defendants that they until the case is resolved, they will have to remain in jail. However, in most cases, you can bond out of state jail and then bond out of ICE custody. US Immigration Bonds in Fort Lauderdale sees these situations on a regular basis. Therefore, it’s important to contact your bondsman as soon as you are taken into ICE custody. The only people who are ineligible for immigration bonds in Fort Lauderdale are aliens subject to mandatory detention. This is usually those who have committed a crime involving moral turpitude or drug related offenses.

How much will an immigration bond cost?

The cost of immigration bonds in Fort Lauderdale can vary. They can range anywhere from $2,000 to $20,000. The amount is unique to each situation, however there are options to take when an immigration bond is set too high for the family to cover. An immigration judge is able to lower the amount of a bond if he or she determines that the amount doesn’t meet the offense. Additionally, some of the other factors a judge will consider in the hearing include:

Is the detained alien a danger to the community?
Is the detained alien a flight risk?
Is the detained alien eligible for immigration benefits?
Does the detained alien have a spouse or children in the United States?

Some or all of these factors can contribute to the decision that the judge makes.

Is Your Immigration Bondsman Doing Their Best For You?

June 15, 2017 by Brittni Swenson

If your family member has been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), then you’ve more than likely found yourself in a position where you are searching for immigration bondsmen to get them released from detention. This can be a very troubling time as you are unsure of whether your loved one will be able to return home or if they are facing deportation. It’s understandable to be upset, which is why it’s important to know if your immigration bondsman is doing the best job that they can possibly do for you.

A bondsman is any company or person that will pledge money or property as bail to release a person from detention or jail. Immigration bondsmen act in a similar manner, although they play a much more integral role. An immigration bondsman, at least a good one, works not only to have a detained client released, but to save families. Immigration bondsman aren’t as common as their counterparts who service clients who have been detained for criminal offenses. Even more so, finding a company like US Immigration Bonds in Fort Lauderdale is even less common, as US Immigration Bonds assists families by making them aware of all pertinent information throughout the process.

An immigration bondsman that is truly on your side won’t just write a check to ICE and send you a bill once the detained alien is released. They will also make recommendations for a good immigration lawyer and clear up any common misconceptions that people have about the trial process. Their wealth of legal knowledge, resources and experience can enable them to get a detained alien released within hours. Most importantly, they act as a guide for families who have limited knowledge of United States law and procedures.

What to do if an Immigration Bond is Denied

June 5, 2017 by Brittni Swenson

Being detained by U.S. immigration officers is an incredibly frightening experience to go through. The top priority is to get out of the detention facility immediately so that you may be with your loved ones again. Typically, contacting a company like US Immigration Bonds in Fort Lauderdale will help to ensure your release, as an immigration bondsman will take care of all matters until your trial. Unfortunately, there are times when an immigration Bond is denied. Here are the steps to take when that happens.

Step 1 – Request a Bond Hearing

If you are an immigration detainee awaiting removal proceedings, you may request a bond hearing from the Immigration Judge. This can be done orally at the first scheduled court hearing, or if you’ve been detained for a while, you may submit your request in writing.

Step 2 – Hire an Attorney

Obtaining an immigration attorney is the best way to successfully obtain an immigration bond. They know everything about immigration hearings and will be able to navigate you through the process.

Step 3 – Have an immigration bondsman on standby

Your attorney may already have this covered, but if they don’t, be sure to contact US Immigration Bonds. At your hearing, the judge can set your bond amount as low as $1,500 and as high as they would like, depending on the situation.

Step 4 – Be prepared for the hearing

Anyone who knows anything about immigration laws is aware that immigration judges and officers are always afraid that aliens released from detention may flee to evade capture. Assure your judge at the immigration hearing that you will show up to future hearings and that you will cooperate with the trial process. Invite family members, friends and anyone else who can vouch for you to the hearing.

Step 5 – Bond set and payment

Once the judge sets the bond amount, have your immigration bondsman post it immediately. Otherwise, you will have a period of usually 30 days before your next hearing. As soon as your bond posts, you will be released from custody, but remember that it’s important to arrange payment to your bondsman upon release, and to avoid any other penalties. Many people are under the misconception that they are freed from the bond obligation after it posts.

Immigration Bonds for Refugees

June 2, 2017 by Brittni Swenson

There is a major difference between a refugee, an immigrant, and an illegal immigrant, both legally and genuinely. It’s easy to get each confused. What adds to the confusion is that each country treats refugees differently, and each country defines the term differently. So, are you looking for immigration bonds for refugees or illegal immigrants?

An immigrant is a person who legally enters and then lives in a country that is not their birth place for an extended period.

An illegal immigrant is a person who leaves their home country, and enters and dwells in a different country for an extended period.

A refugee is a person who flees their country against their desires because of persecution, who then takes asylum in a country that is different from their home country.

Why discuss the difference? Because the devil is in the details. We are an immigration bondsmen in Fort Lauderdale, specializing in same day release. When dealing with the government on sensitive issues like this, it’s important to understand the differences.

The U.S. only accepts certain refugees from certain countries, but if you are considered a refugee in the United States, you will be welcome legally and you will not be detained at all.

If you consider yourself a refugee, but the U.S. government does not, you may be detained as an illegal immigrant.

Though the list of countries that are given refugee status by the U.S. is constantly changing, here is the most up-to-date version as of May 2017:

Democratic Republic of Congo
Burma
Ukraine
Eritrea
Cuba

Syria, Iraq, Somalia, and Iran are no longer given refugee access to the U.S. and they will be detained if they enter illegally.

Immigration Bonds for Refugees

Immigration bondsmen in Fort Lauderdale work with detained immigrants and refugees to get them released the same day they are arrested.

Click here for more common misconceptions regarding immigration bonds.

If you are in need of any immigration bonds for refugees, please call us immediately at 1-800-225-2587.

Haitians Targeted by Immigration Officials for Deportation

May 22, 2017 by Brittni Swenson

Former President Obama expanded the Temporary Protected Status for immigration to include Haitians who were affected by the earthquake in 2010.

Now, President Donald Trump’s administration is gathering information about criminal acts committed by Haitians allowed in this country because of the Temporary Protected Status.

It has been reported by the Associated Press that emails between government officials and departments indicate that this administration is looking to end the Temporary Protected Status for Haitian refugees. They believe that conditions have changed and these immigrants should be returned to Haiti.

The Head of Policy and Strategy for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services instructed her staff to gather criminal data that would provide any evidence of Haitians being convicted of crimes while in the United States.

Trump has seemed to betray the Haitian community, because during his 2016 presidential campaign he was quoted saying, “The Haitian-American community adds so much to our country: dedication to family, perseverance, entrepreneurship… creativity, faith.”

The current U.S. Citizenship and Immigration services acting direct has recommended letting the program expire but giving the Haitians until January 2018 to leave the U.S.

It’s a waiting game now, because a decision is due by May 23. This only further adds to the current immigration issues of the past few months. Stay educated and visit the US Immigration Bonds blog.

US Immigration Bonds and Insurance Services can fight for you and your family. If you or a loved one is Haitian and being targeted by immigration officials for deportation, please don’t hesitate to contact us for help. We can get your loved one release the very same day!

When Should I Apply for US Citizenship?

May 15, 2017 by Brittni Swenson

If you are considering applying for U.S. Citizenship, the immigration bondsmen in Fort Lauderdale have the information for you! There are a couple of different ways to decide if you are eligible for naturalization. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has a naturalization eligibility worksheet that guides you through a few different paths to determine if you are eligible to apply for U.S. Citizenship.

If you are at least 18 years old, have been a permanent resident of the United States for five years or more, and issued a Permanent Resident Card, you are eligible to apply for naturalization. The process of naturalization can be difficult to navigate which is why we offer more articles to assist immigrants with every challenge they may face through the process. Find more about the difference between a green card and a U.S. citizenship here.

If you have been a permanent resident of the United States for at least three years, married to a U.S. citizen for the past three years, and have not been out of the country for more than 18 months, you are also eligible to apply for naturalization.

The USCIS also requires all applicants to be able to read, write, and speak basic English. It is also required to know the fundamentals of U.S. history and the form and principles of the U.S. government.

For more information on how or when to apply for United States citizenship, contact US Immigration Bonds and Insurance Services today.

Bonding Out a Family Member in ICE Custody

May 5, 2017 by Brittni Swenson

To get a family member or friend that has been detained by the Department of Homeland Security US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released, an immigration bond may be necessary. Bonds are usually required for undocumented individuals or Green Card holders that have been detained by the DHS and ICE. The bond is a sum of money they will receive back, if everything in the court order is followed in accordance. US Immigration Bonds in Fort Lauderdale specializes as an immigration bail bond company, and can help you through the process.

There are four kinds of immigration bonds for bonding out a family member in ICE custody:

The Delivery Bond ensures that an individual will obey a deportation order. This bond is usually the most common bond.
The Public Safety Bond states that if a bonded alien accepts any form of public assistance, that the government will be reimbursed. This is known as the “Bond Ensuring That Alien Shall Not Become a Public Charge.”
The Voluntary Departure Bond is the “Bond Conditioned upon the Voluntary Departure of an Alien.” This bond requires that an alien who is granted voluntary departure will return to his or her home country based off the court order.
The Order of Supervision Bond requires that the detained individual successfully follows all of the conditions of the court order, and he or she will surrender for removal.

The Importance of the Right Immigration Bonds

April 30, 2017 by Brittni Swenson

United States immigration continues to rise. Due to the annual increase in numbers, the United States Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has also increased their number of officials.

In March of this year, a young man was detained in Oregon. The reason behind his arrest was that his immigration deferment expired just two weeks before his detainment. Why such a short period of time between expiration and detainment? The individual was on a watch list because of his criminal history during his deferment period. Some of his charges include displaying a weapon and possession of a dangerous weapon.

The individual’s parents stated that he was in the process of reapplying for deferment. Unfortunately, his criminal history made him a target by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officials. Although the suspect has a criminal history he is still eligible for Immigration bonds. The suspect has since been released on immigration bonds with the total costs landing around ten thousand dollars.

It is important to get the right help when it comes to immigration bonds and the time it can take to get a friend or family member released from detainment. The professionals at U.S. Immigration Bonds & Insurance Services, Inc. have the necessary tools to do what is best for you. Call today and speak with one of our professionals and find “The Key to Freedom.” 1-800-225-2587.

Haitian Immigration Bonds

April 22, 2017 by Brittni Swenson

In recent years, Haitian immigration to the United States has been on the rise; largely due to the earthquake in Haiti in 2010. During this period, the United States decided to soften up its stance on Haitian immigration to the U.S.

Today, the United States officials have resorted to detaining Haitian Immigrants rather than releasing them on parole. Since this is occurring at the already congested U.S./Mexico border, once the Haitian immigrants step onto U.S. soil, the United States officials cannot return them to Mexico. Rather, the U.S. hopes to take these detainees directly back to their native country of Haiti. Unfortunately, the Haitian government has been making minimal efforts to take back immigrants. In 2015, only 433 immigrants were returned to Haiti.

Due to the large influx of Haitian Immigrants in the United States and the many more thousands rumored to be on their way, immigration bonds have been skyrocketing in cost. In North Carolina, the US Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials detained a Haitian immigrant; the family unfortunately looked for help in the wrong place, and for the individual to be released he must come up with thirty thousand dollars in immigration bond fees. If the family had used US Immigration Bonds & Insurance Services, Inc. they could have saved a great deal on bond fees and had their loved one released immediately.

We Provide Immigration Bonds

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