When ICE takes someone you love into custody, every hour matters. Phone calls go unanswered. Court dates are unclear. The system is built to confuse and exhaust families until they give up. At the Law Office of Lina Baroudi in San Jose, we step in when families need help the most. Our immigration detention lawyer fights for release, challenges unlawful custody, and stands between our clients and an enforcement system that does not slow down for anyone.
Whether your loved one was picked up at home, at work, at a court check-in, or at the border, we are here to help. Contact us today for a consultation.
Why You Need a San Jose Immigration Detention Lawyer
ICE custody is not like criminal jail. There is no automatic right to a public defender. There is no guaranteed bond hearing. The rules change depending on how your loved one entered the country, where they are being held, and what version of the law applies in that jurisdiction this week. Without legal representation, most people in immigration custody have no realistic path to release.
A skilled detention attorney can:
- File for a bond hearing and present evidence to support release
- Challenge the legal basis for custody through habeas corpus in federal court
- Request emergency parole on humanitarian or medical grounds
- File motions to reopen or terminate removal proceedings
- Pursue release through alternatives to custody when bond is denied
Studies consistently show that represented individuals are far more likely to win release than those who face the system alone. The Law Office of Lina Baroudi provides the kind of attentive, fully prepared representation that bond hearings and federal court litigation actually require.
Our San Jose Immigration Detention Practice Areas
Our team handles every aspect of detention representation, from the first phone call after an arrest through release and beyond.
Bond Hearings Before the Immigration Court
If your loved one is eligible for a bond hearing, we will prepare the strongest possible presentation to the immigration judge. We gather supporting evidence of community ties, family relationships, employment, and the merits of the underlying immigration case. We work with witnesses, secure sponsor declarations, and present the kind of organized, documented case that judges respond to.
We also handle bond redetermination requests when circumstances change after an initial denial.
Habeas Corpus Petitions in Federal Court
When ICE denies a bond hearing entirely, or when custody has stretched on without meaningful review, federal court is often the only path forward. Habeas corpus petitions ask a federal judge to determine whether the government has lawful authority to keep someone in custody. In 2025 and 2026, federal judges across the country have ruled in favor of release in over 300 immigration habeas cases.
Our firm has the federal court experience needed to file these petitions effectively, including in the Northern and Eastern Districts of California, where many California cases are heard.
Challenges to Mandatory Custody and No-Bond Policies
Recent policy changes have stripped bond eligibility from large groups of people, including many who entered without inspection. We challenge these custody classifications under current case law, including arguments based on the Maldonado Bautista litigation that has restored bond rights for many class members.
Parole Requests and Alternatives to Custody
ICE has discretionary authority to release individuals on parole for humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. We prepare parole requests for clients with serious medical conditions, primary caregivers of minor children, pregnant women, and others whose circumstances support release. We also pursue Orders of Supervision and other non-monetary release options when appropriate.
Coordination With Removal Defense
Detention is rarely a standalone issue. Most people in custody also have an underlying removal case that needs strong defense. Our firm handles both sides of the matter, building a release strategy that supports the broader case for asylum, cancellation of removal, adjustment of status, or other relief.
Common Reasons People Are Taken Into ICE Custody
Understanding why someone has been taken into custody is the first step in fighting for their release. ICE arrests typically follow:
- Workplace and home arrests during enforcement operations
- Apprehensions at immigration court check-ins or USCIS appointments
- Transfers from local law enforcement after a criminal case
- Border apprehensions and transfers from CBP custody
- Old removal orders that ICE chooses to execute
Each of these scenarios creates different legal options. The right strategy depends on the facts of how, when, and why custody began.
Where Are San Jose Area Clients Detained?
People taken into custody in the San Jose area are typically transferred to ICE facilities outside the immediate region. Common destinations include:
- Mesa Verde ICE Processing Facility in Bakersfield
- Golden State Annex and Central Valley Annex in McFarland
- California City Detention Facility in Kern County
Our firm represents clients held at all of these facilities. We coordinate visits, secure legal calls, and ensure that distance does not become a barrier to representation.
Why Choose the Law Office of Lina Baroudi
Choosing the right immigration detention lawyer is one of the most consequential decisions a family can make. Here is what sets us apart:
Experience that matters. With over 16 years of immigration law experience, we have handled the full spectrum of detention and removal cases, from straightforward bond hearings to complex federal court litigation.
A client-centered approach. We know how disorienting and frightening it is to have a loved one taken into custody. We communicate clearly, return calls promptly, and treat every family with the respect and patience they deserve.
Bilingual capabilities. We serve clients in multiple languages and ensure that nothing important gets lost in translation.
Federal court litigation experience. Detention cases increasingly require habeas corpus petitions and federal court advocacy. Not every immigration attorney handles federal court work. We do.
Honest assessments. We tell clients the truth about their cases, including when the path is difficult. We do not promise outcomes we cannot deliver, and we do not take cases we cannot win.
What to Do Right Now if a Loved One Is in ICE Custody
If you believe a family member or friend has been taken into ICE custody, here are the immediate steps to take:
- Use the ICE Online Detainee Locator System to confirm their location. It can take 24 to 72 hours after arrest for someone to appear in the system.
- Gather essential information: full legal name, date of birth, country of birth, and A-number (alien registration number) if you have it.
- Locate immigration paperwork, including any prior court documents, work permits, or visa records.
- Do not sign anything without legal advice. Voluntary departure and removal stipulations waive critical rights.
- Contact our office as soon as possible. Time matters, and our team can begin working on bond, habeas, or release strategies immediately.
- San Jose,
- Santa Clara,
- Sunnyvale,
- Cupertino,
- Campbell,
- Saratoga,
- Los Gatos,
- Milpitas,
- Mountain View,
- Palo Alto,
- Fremont, and
- Morgan Hill
- 95148
- 95112,
- 95113,
- 95126,
- 95128
Take the First Step Toward Release
The U.S. immigration system is not built to be fair, and it does not move quickly when someone is locked up. Every day in custody is a day of lost wages, separation from family, and harder odds of winning the underlying immigration case. Working with an experienced immigration detention lawyer can make the difference between months of unnecessary custody and a path to release.
At the Law Office of Lina Baroudi in San Jose, we have helped families through some of the hardest moments of their lives. We bring legal skill, honest counsel, and a deep commitment to clients who are facing a system that often feels designed to grind them down.
If your loved one has been taken into ICE custody, do not wait. Contact the Law Office of Lina Baroudi to schedule a consultation and begin building a strategy for release.
