Immigration Bonds in 2023: What’s Changed?

As of August 2023, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, held 30,184 undocumented immigrants in detainment. More than half of these immigrants—approximately 62.4%—have no criminal records and meet the eligibility requirements for release on an immigration bond. While many of these individuals will be released from detainment, many others will remain in the custody of ICE due to limited financial resources to pay the cost of the bond. 

The Cost of Immigration Bonds in 2023

In uncertain economic times with inflation costs skyrocketing, the cost of immigration bonds has also risen. In 2022, the average cost of an immigration bond was around $5000. This year, the average cost has gone up significantly to $7000. With families already struggling to afford the basic necessities, this rise places more strain than ever on undocumented immigrants and their families. In turn, more immigrants are being held in custody for longer periods of time because their loved ones simply cannot afford to pay the costs associated with a traditional ICE bond.

Payment Changes: ICE’s CeBONDs System

Paying ICE bonds in 2023, although more expensive, is a simpler process than in years past due to the new CeBONDS payment portal launched by ICE in April. The system allows immigration bond sponsors to skip the in-person visits to ICE facilities to make payments. This eliminates a lot of hassle for those who do not have a location nearby or those who are hesitant to enter a detainment facility. Those who need to make a payment through the CeBONDS system no longer need to secure a cashier’s check or money order to post a bond. Instead, all obligors paying immigration bonds in 2023 are now required to have online banking access. With this access, they are able to make a payment from a desktop, laptop, smartphone, or tablet using ACH wire transfers or Fedwire. Keep in mind, that while payments are simplified, they still require the payor to have the full amount of the bond available in their bank accounts.

Increased Demand for Immigration Bond Services

Because immigration bonds in 2023 are more costly than in previous years, the demand for immigration bond services continues to rise. This is primarily due to the fact that ICE requires payments to be made in full. Those who have limited financial resources are simply unable to cover the unexpected costs of anywhere from $5000 to $10,000 or more. In these cases, they turn to immigration bond services which only require a small portion of the total bond to be paid upfront. Typically, this involves providing a form of collateral, such as the title to a vehicle, to secure the loan until the immigration case concludes. While these costs are not refundable as with an ICE bond, it makes it possible for immigrants to leave ICE detainment while their cases are processed through the immigration court system. 

Need of an Immigration Bond in 2023?

If you need assistance with an immigration bond to get your loved one free from ICE detainment, give us a call at 1-800-225-2587 today to see how we can help. In many cases, we are able to get immigrants released on the same day through our 2% cash bond program.