Immigration court in Illinois — guide for immigrants in proceedings

Immigration courts in Illinois

Immigration Courts are part of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) within Department of Justice. They handle:

• Removal proceedings (deportation cases)
• Defensive asylum (when in removal)
• Cancellation of removal
• Some USCIS decision appeals
• Bond hearings (for detained)

Immigration courts in Illinois (real EOIR data)

The following are EOIR (Executive Office for Immigration Review) courts operating in Illinois. Data verified from justice.gov as of 2026-05-25.

Chicago Immigration Court

Address: 55 E. Monroe St

City: Chicago, IL 60603

Phone: 312-220-0965

Official source: justice.gov/eoir

What to expect at first hearing (Master Calendar Hearing)

1. Arrive early (security takes time)
2. Bring full file and ID
3. If no attorney: judge will ask how you’ll proceed. Will give you time (typically 3-12 months) to find legal representation.
4. If you have attorney: attorney speaks for you in most proceedings.
5. Don’t speak English without interpreter: you have right to free interpreter (court-provided) if English isn’t your native language.

If detained

• Visit detained person ASAP: detention center rules apply
• Pay bond if eligible: court can set bond ($1,500-$50,000+)
• Find representation immediately: detained cases have shorter deadlines

How to find pro bono or low-cost attorney in Illinois

See: Legal aid in Illinois

Related information

• Path to Citizenship
• Affidavit of Support I-864
• Public Charge Rule
• Find immigration attorney

Official source: EOIR Immigration Court Listings

Last verified: 2026-05-25.

General procedural information for educational purposes. Not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Laws and fees change — verify with the issuing agency before taking action. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration attorney or other appropriate professional.

Internet-based hearings + telephonic access (EOIR-verified, 2026-05-26)

The following EOIR judges in Illinois publish Webex links for internet-based hearings + telephonic dial-in access codes. Telephonic hearings: dial 1-415-527-5035, then enter the access code for your judge.

Verify before each hearing — links and codes change. Source: justice.gov/eoir/find-immigration-court-and-access-internet-based-hearings.

Chicago Immigration Court

Important: If you don’t have a representative of record, your default hearing medium is in-person regardless of any link above. Photographing or recording an internet-based hearing without permission is prohibited.

Related procedural information

• Find legal aid (pro bono attorneys) by state — pro bono lists per court
• Find an immigration attorney — AILA, BIA-recognized providers
• USCIS Form I-589 — Asylum Application — defensive asylum in immigration court
• Know Your Rights — ICE encounters — what to do if arrested
• Consulate of your country in the US — consular protection during proceedings

EOIR case context (2025-2026)

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) had approximately 3.7 million pending cases in immigration courts as of FY 2024 — the highest in history. Average wait time from Notice to Appear (NTA) issuance to first hearing: 1,200-1,500 days (3-4 years) in most courts; some courts wait 5+ years. EOIR operates 71 immigration courts staffed by 700+ immigration judges, plus the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) which hears appeals.

H.R.1 / OBBBA effective 2026-05-29 introduces fees for some EOIR proceedings: $100 asylum filing fee (Form I-589 — also payable with USCIS for affirmative asylum), $100 Annual Asylum Fee while case pending. The in-absentia removal-order arrest fee was increased from $5,000 under proposed Federal Register rule 2026-10082 (2026-05-20). Verify current fees at justice.gov/eoir before any filing.

The 1996 Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA) and Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) significantly expanded grounds for removal and restricted relief. Sanchez v. Mayorkas (594 U.S. ___, 2021) restricted TPS-to-LPR adjustment for entry-without-inspection cases. Pereira v. Sessions (138 S. Ct. 2105, 2018) limited use of “stop-time rule” for cancellation of removal.

For court hearing information: 1-800-898-7180 (automated, 24/7, English/Spanish). For internet-based hearings: each judge publishes Webex links via the per-court page above; telephonic access via the EOIR conferencing system requires the access code listed per judge. Always verify your hearing date via the EOIR Automated Case Information system or your attorney — missing a hearing leads to in-absentia removal order, which carries the new arrest fee plus future inadmissibility.

For free representation: BIA-recognized organizations at /procedures/bia-recognized-help-by-state/, AILA pro bono at ailalawyer.com, the National Immigrant Justice Center, RAICES, CLINIC. Detained-case hotlines: ICE Online Detainee Locator at locator.ice.gov/odls; DHS Office for Civil Rights complaints 1-866-644-8360 Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm Eastern Time.