Immigration courts in North Carolina
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 North Carolina (real EOIR data)
The following are EOIR (Executive Office for Immigration Review) courts operating in North Carolina. Data verified from justice.gov as of 2026-05-25.
Charlotte Immigration Court
Address: 5701 Executive Center
City: Charlotte, NC 28212
Phone: 704-817-6140
Official source: justice.gov/eoir
What to expect at first hearing (Master Calendar Hearing)
- Arrive early (security takes time)
- Bring full file and ID
- 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.
- If you have attorney: attorney speaks for you in most proceedings.
- 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 North Carolina
See: Legal aid in North Carolina
Related information
Official source: EOIR Immigration Court Listings
Last verified: 2026-08-11.
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 North Carolina 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.
Charlotte Immigration Court
| Judge Name | Internet-Based Hearing Link | Access Code (Telephonic)* |
|---|---|---|
| ACIJ Theresa Holmes-Simmons (THS) | Join hearing | 199 758 3063 |
| Christopher W. Bragg (CSB) | Join hearing | 2831 391 6152 |
| Alicia Brooks (ABK) | Join hearing | 2761 492 1135 |
| Scott Criss (SC2) | Join hearing | 199 780 5874 |
| Ellen Karesh (KAR) | Join hearing | 2761 090 7667 |
| Amy Lee (ATL) | Join hearing | 199 785 2839 |
| Eric Levinson (ELL) | Join hearing | 2820 780 3106 |
| Amy Sigmon Walker (AYW) | Join hearing | 2821 263 6096 |
| Jennifer S. Wells (JW1) | Join hearing | 2827 767 7163 |
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)
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.