When ICE detains someone in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and western Pennsylvania, the first question most families ask is whether their loved one can be released on bond. The honest answer depends on three things: how the person entered the United States, how and where they were arrested, and their criminal and immigration history. Bond eligibility can depend on the federal circuit and the detention statute. In the Pittsburgh area, that is the Third Circuit.
Consultations are by video only. Call (888) 902-9285 or request a consultation.
Who can ask for an immigration bond hearing
Pennsylvania is in the Third Circuit. Bond eligibility depends on the detention statute, the person’s entry and custody history, and controlling court decisions. We check those questions before advising whether a bond request or a federal petition fits. No Third Circuit holding is asserted here.
Who usually cannot get bond from an immigration judge
- Mandatory detention under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(c). Certain criminal convictions, and since the Laken Riley Act (2025) certain arrests or charges for theft-related and violent offenses for people who are inadmissible, put a person in mandatory detention. The exact offense and the court record matter, so we read them closely.
- Expedited removal and credible fear (8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(1)). People processed at or near the border often cannot get bond from a judge. Release, if any, comes through ICE parole.
- Final removal orders (8 U.S.C. § 1231). After a final order, detention is governed by different rules. If removal is not happening, see our Pittsburgh habeas page.
If the judge says there is no jurisdiction to hold a bond hearing, that is not always the end. A federal habeas petition may be the next step.
What happens at a bond hearing
A bond hearing (a "custody redetermination," under 8 C.F.R. §§ 1003.19 and 1236.1(d)) is a short hearing before an immigration judge, usually on the detained docket and often by video. The detained person must show that they are not a danger to the community and are not a flight risk (Matter of Guerra, 24 I&N Dec. 37 (BIA 2006)). The judge can deny bond, set an amount, or lower ICE's amount.
What helps is organized, verified evidence, ready before the request is filed:
- A sponsor and a fixed address: a U.S. citizen or permanent-resident relative, with ID and proof of address.
- Family ties: birth and marriage certificates, especially for U.S. citizen children or spouse.
- Time in the United States and community roots: leases, tax returns, school records, letters from employers, clergy and neighbors.
- Any criminal record, fully documented: final dispositions, proof of completed sentences or classes.
- A path in the case: if the person may qualify for asylum, cancellation of removal or another form of relief, a short summary of that helps show they have reason to appear.
- Health or caregiving needs with documentation.
We prepare the packet, the sponsor and the witnesses before the hearing. We do not promise a hearing date or a result.
Where Pittsburgh-area bond hearings are heard
Non-detained cases from this area are heard at the Philadelphia Immigration Court, Robert Nix Federal Building, 900 Market Street, Suite 504, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (EOIR stopped holding hearings in Pittsburgh on April 29, 2022; Pittsburgh-area cases are heard in Philadelphia or by video). Detained bond hearings follow the facility, not the family's home. EOIR's administrative control list (updated October 1, 2026) identifies record-control assignments, not a guarantee of the hearing venue or format. Confirm the individual hearing notice. The directory lists:
| Facility | Address | County | Federal court for a habeas petition | EOIR administrative control court (Oct. 1, 2026; confirm individual notice) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moshannon Valley Processing Center | 555 GEO Drive, Philipsburg, PA 16866 | Clearfield County (Decatur Township), even though the mailing address is Philipsburg | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania | Elizabeth Immigration Court (New Jersey), which EOIR lists for Moshannon Valley; confirm the hearing location and format from the individual notice |
Custody and check-in questions run through the ICE ERO Philadelphia Field Office, 114 North 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, (215) 656-7164 (area of responsibility: Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia).
Bond amounts and paying a bond
The minimum immigration bond set by statute is $1,500 (8 U.S.C. § 1226(a)(2)(A)); there is no fixed maximum, and amounts vary widely. ICE accepts the bond from an "obligor," usually a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, who must keep ICE informed of address changes. The bond is generally returned at the end of the case if every condition was met and every hearing attended. Missing a hearing can forfeit it. ICE may add conditions such as check-ins or an ankle monitor. Confirm current payment methods with ICE before paying, and never pay anyone who promises a release.
If bond is denied, or ICE does not release after bond is granted
- Appeal: either side can appeal a bond decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals, generally within 30 days (8 C.F.R. § 1003.38(b)).
- New hearing: a second bond request is possible when circumstances have materially changed (8 C.F.R. § 1003.19(e)).
- Automatic stay: in some cases DHS can block release while it appeals (8 C.F.R. § 1003.19(i)(2)). See ICE won't release after bond was granted.
- Federal habeas: when the immigration court route is closed or detention has become prolonged, see our Pittsburgh habeas page.
Frequently asked questions
How soon can a bond hearing happen? It depends on the court's detained calendar and on when the request is filed. We do not promise dates. The most useful thing a family can do is gather the evidence above now, so the request is ready.
Is the bond money returned? Generally yes, after the case ends, if every condition was met and every hearing attended.
Can bond be granted with a criminal record? Sometimes. It depends on the exact offense, the sentence, and whether it falls within a mandatory-detention category. We read the conviction record and the charging document closely.
My relative entered without a visa years ago. Can they get bond? That is the central question in 2026, and the answer depends on circuit law. In the Third Circuit, see the section above. If a judge says no, ask us about habeas.
What if my relative is moved to another state? Call us with the new facility. Transfers can change which immigration court hears the bond request and which federal court would hear a habeas petition.
Talk with our Pittsburgh office
Modern Law Group
301 Grant Street, Suite 270, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: (888) 902-9285 · Text: (619) 889-6476
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday.
Consultations are by video only. We work in English, Spanish, Russian, Kyrgyz, Kazakh, Uzbek and Vietnamese.
Request a consultation · Call (888) 902-9285
Attorney Deron E. Smallcomb has been licensed to practice law since 2012. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Start with a consultation: we listen, explain your options and our fees in writing, and tell you plainly if we cannot help.
Responsible attorney: Deron E. Smallcomb, admitted in California and Texas; not admitted in Pennsylvania; practice limited to federal immigration law. Responsible firm: Modern Law Group, P.C., 789 Gateway Center Way, San Diego, CA 92102.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Reading it or contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case depends on its own facts, and no result is promised. Laws and court decisions in this area change often; this page was last reviewed on October 11, 2026.