SCSJ has partnered with the National Immigration Bond Fund to provide legal and bond assistance to persons arrested by local authorities and detained for removal proceedings.
The purpose of the partnership is to:
- Educate the public about the importance of getting out of immigration detention and obtaining an attorney to have a fair hearing
- Call attention to the problems of local enforcement of immigration law
- Provide bond assistance to individuals who cannot otherwise afford to pay an immigration bond
When immigrants are detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), they must post bond immediately to establish immigration court jurisdiction in the district where they were arrested–if not, they may be rapidly transfered far from their families. Many who cannot afford bond are placed in accelerated deportation proceedings with little opportunity to attain legal counsel or spend time with their families, and may be penalized by judges.
SCSJ recognizes how critical posting bond can be in order to secure a prompt and fair hearing, as well as how traumatic detention and family separation can be for immigrants. We also know that immigrants often face financial barriers to posting bond.
Through this partnership, if families can raise 50% of the bond, they can apply to SCSJ for matching funds for the remainder of the bond, which the Bond Fund will supply to SCSJ in the form of a 0% interest loan. The loan is repaid when the case is completed and the bond returned.
If you are interested in more information about the Bond Fund or in applying for the bond fund, please call us or contact Rebecca Fontaine at rebecca@scsj.org.
You can see our Press Release about the partnership here.