Immigration Bonds will earn interest at an annual rate of 3% for the period beginning October 1, 2026, and ending January 31, 2027, under a notice published by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
The rate applies to cash deposited to secure U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement immigration bonds.
For qualifying immigration bonds, the deposit—not the bond amount or release decision—is the subject of the interest provision.
The notice was published in the Federal Register on October 5, 2026, as document number 2026-20375.
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What Treasury changed for immigration bond deposits
The Treasury Department set the Immigration Bonds interest rate at 3% per year for the four-month period covered by the notice.
The rate is effective for the period from October 1, 2026, through January 31, 2027.
The notice does not change the amount of a bond, the conditions imposed by an immigration judge or Department of Homeland Security official, or the rules governing whether a person may be released on bond.
Instead, it establishes the return paid on qualifying cash held by the federal government as security for an immigration bond.
Who may be affected by the rate
The rate primarily affects the obligor who deposits cash to secure an immigration bond.
An obligor may be the detained person, a family member, a friend, or another individual who posts the required cash security.
The rule applies to cash deposits rather than every type of immigration bond arrangement.
A surety bond issued through a licensed immigration bond company generally involves different payment terms and should not be treated as a Treasury cash deposit under this notice.
For immigration bonds secured with cash, documentation can help establish the relevant deposit and payment records.
Anyone who has posted cash for an ICE immigration bond should keep documentation showing the deposit date, the bond number, the amount paid, and the identity of the obligor.
Those records can help the obligor confirm the principal and interest when the deposit is returned or otherwise resolved.
How the Immigration Bonds interest rate is calculated
Federal law permits the Treasury Secretary to determine the interest rate paid on cash used to secure immigration bonds.
The statute places a ceiling of 3% per year on that interest.
Treasury regulations also provide that the rate cannot be below zero.
Under Treasury’s stated method, the rate changes quarterly and is based on the lesser of the average rates from 91-day Treasury bill auctions during the preceding calendar quarter or the statutory 3% maximum.
For the October 1, 2026, through January 31, 2027, period, Treasury set the rate at the maximum permitted level of 3%.
The annual rate does not mean that every deposit will receive exactly 3% of the original amount as a payment.
The actual interest depends on the amount deposited and the length of time the cash remains subject to the bond account.
For example, a $10,000 deposit held for a full year at 3% would produce approximately $300 in simple annual interest before any issue involving the bond’s status or the applicable accounting period.
A deposit held for only part of a year would generally produce a proportionate amount based on the applicable accrual period.
When interest accrues on a cash immigration bond
Section 1363 of Title 8 provides that interest accrues from the date of deposit through the date of withdrawal or the date the immigration bond is breached, whichever occurs first.
The bond’s resolution therefore matters when determining how long the cash remains subject to interest.
If the bond is canceled or otherwise resolved without a breach, the principal and applicable interest are handled under the government’s procedures for returning the deposit.
If the bond is breached, the statute provides special rules for the disposition of the principal and interest.
Interest accruing through the date of breach is paid to the obligor, while the principal is subject to the applicable bond and breach provisions.
The Federal Register notice does not provide a new timetable for refunds or establish a new application process for receiving interest.
What the notice does not do
The Treasury announcement is not a new immigration enforcement policy.
It does not expand ICE detention authority or change the standards used to set an immigration bond.
It also does not guarantee that a detained person will qualify for release.
Immigration judges and authorized immigration officials determine bond eligibility, bond conditions, and bond amounts under the applicable immigration laws and procedures.
The notice only addresses interest on qualifying cash deposited as security.
People should also avoid confusing this rate with interest rates for savings bonds, bank accounts, court deposits, or other Treasury programs.
Practical steps for people who posted cash
- Keep the original receipt and all paperwork associated with the immigration bond.
- Confirm the name of the obligor listed on the bond record.
- Record the date and amount of the cash deposit.
- Ask the responsible immigration agency or authorized financial office how the bond is released after the case reaches the relevant stage.
- Review the amount returned against the principal and the interest that accrued under the applicable quarterly rates.
- Consult an immigration attorney if the bond is alleged to have been breached or if the refund amount appears incorrect.
People should not send sensitive financial information through an unverified website, text message, or social media account claiming to process an immigration bond refund.
Official correspondence should be checked carefully, particularly when a request involves additional fees, wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or bank-account credentials.
Why the rate is capped at 3%
Congress set the maximum interest rate for cash securing immigration bonds at 3% per year.
Treasury’s quarterly formula can produce a rate below that ceiling when average 91-day Treasury bill rates are lower.
When the calculated average reaches or exceeds the cap, the Immigration Bonds rate cannot rise above 3%.
The floor of zero prevents a negative interest rate from being applied to the cash deposit.
This structure means that the rate can move up or down in future quarters without changing the statutory maximum.
Next review period
The published rate covers October 1, 2026, through January 31, 2027.
Because Treasury determines the rate on a quarterly basis, a later notice or Treasury posting may establish a different rate for the next period.
People with active cash immigration bonds should verify the applicable rate for the quarter in which interest accrues rather than relying on an older notice.
The Treasury Department said current quarterly rates are also posted through its certified interest-rate information for specific statutory purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Immigration Bonds interest rate from October 2026 through January 2027?
The Treasury Department set the annual interest rate at 3% for cash deposited to secure ICE immigration bonds from October 1, 2026, through January 31, 2027.
Does the 3% rate apply to every immigration bond?
No. The notice applies to qualifying cash deposited to secure ICE immigration bonds. Surety bonds and other payment arrangements may have different terms.
When does interest accrue on a cash immigration bond?
Under 8 U.S.C. 1363, interest generally accrues from the deposit date through the date of withdrawal or the date the bond is breached, whichever occurs first.
Does the new rate change the amount of an immigration bond?
No. The notice sets the interest rate on qualifying cash deposits and does not change bond eligibility, bond conditions, or the amount set by the responsible immigration authority.
Fact-Checked: Verified against the October 5, 2026, Federal Register notice, 8 U.S.C. 1363, and Treasury certified-interest-rate information.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information and is not legal or financial advice.
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