What Immigration Bonds Look Like Under a Trump Administration

Ver en Español: Cómo se ven las fianzas de inmigración bajo la administración de Trump?

To say that illegal immigration was one of the key topics of the 2024 election would easily be an understatement.

It was one of the most popular messages of the Trump narrative and based on the results of the election, it resonated with the majority of voters. But as the 47^th president takes office, many are wondering what kind of impact that will have on the immigration status of millions of aliens currently present in the US. This is what we know so far…

A national emergency has been declared at the border and all illegal entry at the border has been halted
Federal resources are being sent to help secure the border including the National Guard and the military to help in bot securing the border and building the wall
Construction of the border wall will restart immediately
The Trump administration’s remain in Mexico policy has been reinstated
Biden’s CBP1 immigration app has been shut down and any appointment that an alien had through the app has been cancelled
Mass deportations have already started and those aliens who pose the biggest threat to Americans are being rounded up and sent back to their countries of origins
The administration has already negotiated with several countries (including Venezuela, Mexico and Columbia) to take back their criminal aliens
Deals have also been made with Mexico and Canada to reinforce and strengthen their borders to prevent illegal crossings into the US
Attempts are being made to do away with birthright citizenship
The administration has threatened to pull federal grants from states and jurisdictions that identify themselves as sanctuaries for illegal aliens.
All refugee settlement efforts in the US have been halted along with legal refugee immigration

The one action that we have not seen yet, but have been told by the administration, is that they would end the release of migrants into the country while they await their court hearings. This practice has been referred to many as unsecured (no bond) free catch and release and has led to an overwhelming number of aliens being lost throughout the country.

While the dust settles on these initial steps by the new Trump administration, we do know one thing for certain…that financially secured release of aliens should remain as the most efficient and effective way to release alien defendants in a responsible and accountable fashion. Secured immigration bonds have no cost to taxpayers and help ensure that those released show up for all required hearings. The Center for Immigration Assistance will continue to work with attorneys, families and ICE to ensure that anyone involved in the detention or release of an alien has the proper information and assistance.

Author: Doug Wood

Mr. Wood grew up in the Tidewater (Norfolk/Virginia Beach) area of Virginia. After earning a BA in History from the College of William and Mary in 1963, he attended the Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. He received his commission in March, 1964, and went on the serve five years on active duty. He then enrolled in the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at William and Mary, and graduated in 1972. Mr. Wood spent his legal career with a variety of federal government agencies. The last 11 of this were with the (then) Immigration and Naturalization Service. For the last five of these years he was the lead attorney on all matters relating to immigration bonds. Upon his retirement in 2001, he began a career as a consultant to a number of immigration bond companies. Although retired from the bar, he continues to provide consulting services to immigration bond companies around the country. View all posts by Doug Wood