Raise Money for Immigration Defense

There's no public defender in immigration court. When deportation, removal, or asylum proceedings begin, you're on your own to find and pay for private counsel. PayIt2 helps families collect funds quickly for attorney fees, immigration bond, and filing costs.

Start an Immigration Defense Campaign
Stripe-secured • No monthly fees • Funds in 2-3 days

What Immigration Legal Cases Actually Cost

This page provides general educational information about legal defense fundraising costs. It is not legal advice. Consult with a licensed attorney about your specific situation.

What makes immigration cases uniquely devastating financially is that there's no right to a court-appointed attorney. Unlike criminal court, where a public defender is guaranteed, immigration proceedings require families to find and pay for private counsel entirely on their own. Deportation defense, asylum cases, and removal proceedings routinely require $3,000 to $15,000 in attorney retainers before representation even begins.

Beyond attorney fees, immigration bond can range from $1,500 to $25,000 or more, set by an immigration judge and payable in cash or through a surety bond company. Filing fees for USCIS applications and appeals add $500 to $2,000, and many cases require expert witnesses or translators at $1,000 to $5,000. When you add it all up, a contested removal case can easily reach $8,000 to $50,000 or more.

Attorney retainer
$3,000 - $15,000
Deportation defense, asylum, removal proceedings
Immigration bond
$1,500 - $25,000+
Set by immigration judge, cash or surety
Additional costs
$1,500 - $7,000+
Includes USCIS filing fees ($500-$2K), expert witnesses, translators ($1K-$5K)
Total estimated cost
$8,000 - $50,000+
Contested removal cases; asylum cases often at lower end

Time is everything in immigration cases. Deadlines for bond hearings, asylum applications, and appeals are strict, and missing them can mean a default removal order. Having funds available to retain counsel immediately can change the outcome entirely. Start your campaign now before critical deadlines pass.

For practical guidance on setting up a legal defense campaign and sharing it with your network, see our fundraising guide.

Browse all Legal Defense fundraising options

Related: Criminal Defense · Civil Rights Defense

How It Works

1

Create a Campaign

Sign up and describe the case in minutes. Set a specific dollar goal based on the attorney retainer, bond amount, and filing fees. Keep it factual and focused on the legal costs.

2

Share With Your Community

Send the campaign link to family, friends, church members, and community organizations. Direct outreach by text, email, or private message reaches the people most likely to help. A personal message from someone they trust is worth more than any social post.

3

Collect and Retain Counsel

Contributions are processed securely through Stripe. Funds deposit in 2 to 3 business days so you can pay the retainer and post bond before hearing dates pass. Request payouts anytime.

Why PayIt2 for Immigration Defense

Open Platform

PayIt2 welcomes immigration legal defense fundraising for virtually any lawful purpose. No content bans on deportation defense, asylum, or removal proceedings. We operate in compliance with Stripe's acceptable use policies.

Apolitical

We're not politically affiliated. Your immigration defense campaign stands on its own, without partisan associations that could discourage donors or attract unwanted attention.

Fast Access to Funds

Immigration deadlines don't wait. Funds deposit in 2 to 3 business days so you can retain counsel and post bond before critical hearing dates pass.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about immigration defense fundraising

Attorney retainers range from $3,000 to $15,000 depending on case complexity. Immigration bond runs $1,500 to $25,000+, set by an immigration judge. USCIS filing fees add $500 to $2,000, and expert witnesses or translators cost $1,000 to $5,000. A contested removal case typically totals $8,000 to $50,000 or more.
Yes. Immigration bond is one of the most common reasons families use PayIt2. Bond amounts are set by an immigration judge and can range from $1,500 to $25,000 or more. You can include bond costs alongside attorney fees in a single campaign, or create a separate campaign just for bond. Funds deposit in 2 to 3 business days.
No. Unlike criminal court, there's no constitutional right to a public defender in immigration proceedings. You have to find and pay for your own attorney. Some nonprofit legal aid organizations offer limited free representation, but demand far exceeds capacity. For most families, private counsel funded through savings or fundraising is the only realistic option.
Contributions process through Stripe and deposit in 2 to 3 business days. You can request payouts at any time once funds have cleared. For urgent cases, many families start sharing immediately after creating the campaign and receive their first contributions within hours. There's no minimum threshold to request a payout.

Ready to Start Your Immigration Defense Campaign?

Set up your immigration defense campaign in minutes. No monthly fees, no hidden costs. Funds in your bank in 2 to 3 business days.

Start an Immigration Defense Campaign