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DHS proposes new requirements for surety companies underwriting immigration bonds

  1. Original Date Announced

    July 31, 2020

    DHS published final rule on federally-certified surety companies underwriting immigration bonds. First, Treasury-certified sureties seeking to overturn a surety immigration bond breach determination are required to exhaust administrative remedies by filing an administrative appeal raising all factual and legal defenses. Second, "for cause" standards and due process protections are stated so that ICE may decline bonds from companies that do not cure deficient performance. [ID #327]

    Final Rule: Procedures and Standards for Declining Surety Immigration Bonds and Administrative Appeal Requirement for Breaches
  2. Effective Date

    August 31, 2020
  3. Subsequent Trump and Court Action(s)

    • August 11, 2022

      Gonzalez Bonds v. DHS Order Granting Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment

      On August 10, 2022, a magistrate judge in the Northern District of California vacated the rule that imposed several hurdles on surety companies on the grounds that Chad Wolf was invalidly appointed Acting Secretary and therefor lacked the legal authority to promulgate the rule, and DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas's ratification of the rule could not under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act cure the original defect in promulgation.

      **Litigation is listed for informational purposes and is not comprehensive. For the current status of legal challenges, check other sources.**

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    • March 29, 2023

      Gonzalez Bonds v. DHS - Reply Brief for Appellants

      On March 29, 2023, DHS asked the Ninth Circuit to reinstate the rule. The Biden administration argued in its brief that the fact that former DHS Secretary Chad Wolf promulgated the rule did not render it ineffective, because under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, it was not necessary for the rule to have been promulgated by a Senate-confirmed secretary, and because DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas ratified the policy in 2021.

      **Litigation is listed for informational purposes and is not comprehensive. For the current status of legal challenges, check other sources.**

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    • July 18, 2024

      2024.07.18 Gonzales & Gonzales Bonds & Ins. Agency, Inc. v. U.S. Dep't of Homeland Sec

      On July 18, 2024, a panel of the Ninth Circuit held that the Secretary Mayorkas's ratification of the rule cured any defect in its promulgation. The Federal Vacancies Reform Act bars ratification of actions taken by purported officers serving in violation of the FVRA, but the panel held that this bar applies only to non-delegable "functions or duties," which do not include the authority for the challenged rule.

      **Litigation is listed for informational purposes and is not comprehensive. For the current status of legal challenges, check other sources.**

      View Document
  4.  
  5. Biden Administration Action: Approved/Retained

    April 15, 2021

    2021.04.15 Ratification of the Final Rule Regarding Surety Bonds (found as appendix in July 30, 2021 FedReg notification)

    This Biden administration policy ratifies the Trump-era policy identified in this entry.

    On April 15, 2021, Secretary Mayorkas ratified the July 31, 2020 rule. (Appendix to July 30, 2021 Federal Register entry.)

    View Document
  6. Biden Administration Action: Approved/Retained

    July 30, 2021

    2021.07.30 Ratification of Department Action

    This Biden administration policy ratifies the Trump-era policy identified in this entry.

    On July 30, 2021, DHS issued a notification in the Federal Register confirming Secretary Mayorkas's April 15, 2021 ratification of the July 31, 2020 policy.

    View Document

Current Status

Fully in Effect

Most Recent Action

July 30, 2021 Action: Approved/Retained 2021.07.30 Ratification of Department Action
April 15, 2021
Acted on by Biden Administration
July 30, 2021
Acted on by Biden Administration

Original Trump Policy Status

Status: Final/Actual
Trump Administration Action: Rule
Subject Matter: Detention
Agencies Affected: ICE

Pre Trump-Era Policies

  • October 16, 2014

    Surety company can sue for breach directly in federal court, without requiring exhaustion of administrative appeal. A rule issued by the Department of the Treasury in 2014 allows an agency's bond approving official to decline to accept additional bonds on behalf of his or her agency that would be underwritten by a Treasury-certified surety for cause provided that certain due process standards are satisfied.

    Surety Companies Doing Business with the United States

To provide information, corrections, or feedback, please email IPTP.feedback@gmail.com

To provide information, corrections, or feedback, please email IPTP.feedback@gmail.com