Immigration courts in Kentucky

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)

Courts serving Kentucky

Kentucky does not have its own EOIR Immigration Court. Cases from Kentucky are heard by the Memphis, TN court.

Memphis Immigration Court:

  • Address: 80 Monroe Avenue
  • Location: Memphis, TN 38103
  • Phone: 901-528-5883
  • Official site

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. Can continue the case to give you time to find legal representation; EOIR publishes no standard length for that continuance.
  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: a delivery bond is at least $1,500 under 8 U.S.C. §1226(a)(2)(A); that is a floor and the statute sets no maximum — see immigration bonds
  • Find representation immediately: detained cases have shorter deadlines

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

See: Legal aid in Kentucky

Official source: EOIR Immigration Court Listings

Last verified: 2026-06-12.

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.

EOIR case context (2025-2026)

Key lines stay here: hearing dates via the EOIR automated line 1-800-898-7180 (24/7, English/Spanish); H.R.1 / OBBBA has applied fees to some EOIR filings since 2026-05-29 — verify at justice.gov/eoir before filing. The national EOIR context — the pending-caseload figure from EOIR’s own statistics, the H.R.1 / OBBBA court fees, the 1996 laws and key Supreme Court rulings, and the hearing hotline and free-representation contacts — is maintained once, on the immigration courts by state hub.