Alabama does not have its own EOIR immigration court. Every immigration case originating in Alabama moves through one of two out-of-state courts depending on whether the person is detained or not. Understanding which court has jurisdiction over a specific case is the first thing families need to get right, because the wrong address on a filing or a missed hearing notice sent to the wrong location can have permanent consequences.
This page explains how immigration court works for people in Alabama, which courts handle Alabama cases, how to find out where a case is scheduled, and what the removal proceeding process looks like from start to finish.
Which Court Handles Alabama Immigration Cases
The answer depends on whether the person is detained.
Non-detained respondents in Alabama fall under the administrative control of the New Orleans Immigration Court. The New Orleans ICE Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) covers Alabama, so charging documents issued by that office are filed at and processed by the New Orleans Immigration Court, located at One Canal Place, 365 Canal Street, Suite 500, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130. For a person living anywhere in Alabama who is not in detention, the New Orleans Immigration Court is where their case lives. Depending on location within Alabama, the drive to New Orleans can run four to seven hours.
Detained respondents held at the Etowah County Detention Center in Gadsden, Alabama fall under the administrative control of the Oakdale Immigration Court in Louisiana. The Oakdale Immigration Court handles cases for several detention facilities across the region, including Etowah. Hearings for detained respondents at Etowah are typically held by video teleconference rather than in person at Oakdale. The Oakdale Immigration Court is located at 1900 East Whatley Road, Oakdale, Louisiana 71463.
For detained respondents held at other Alabama facilities or transferred to facilities in neighboring states, the controlling court depends on which facility holds them. The ICE Automated Case Information System (800-898-7180) and the EOIR court finder are the authoritative sources for which court has jurisdiction over a specific case.
Always confirm jurisdiction with the actual hearing notice. The hearing notice is the official document that names the court, the date, the time, and the location. If no hearing notice has been received, use the Automated Case Information System at 800-898-7180 to check case status.
How Immigration Court Differs From Criminal Court
Immigration court is a civil proceeding, not a criminal one. Removal proceedings take place before an immigration judge who is an employee of the Department of Justice through the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). The government is represented by a DHS attorney from the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, sometimes called a trial attorney or an OPLA attorney. The person facing removal is called the respondent.
Being in removal proceedings is not a criminal charge and does not result in a criminal sentence. The outcome of removal proceedings is either a grant of relief allowing the person to remain in the United States in some legal status, or a removal order directing them to leave. There is no jury. There is no public defender equivalent.
The respondent has the right to be represented by an attorney of their choosing at their own expense. There is no right to a government-appointed attorney in immigration court, except in narrow circumstances involving serious mental competency concerns. This is one of the most important and most misunderstood facts about the immigration court system. Not having a free lawyer does not mean going without legal help. Legal aid organizations, nonprofit immigration legal services providers, and law school clinics provide free or low-cost representation. A list of those resources appears at the end of this page.
A word on notario fraud: in many countries, a notario publico is a licensed legal professional with significant authority. In the United States, that title has no equivalent legal meaning. Notarios, immigration consultants, and non-lawyers cannot represent people in immigration court and cannot legally give immigration legal advice. Paying someone who is not a licensed attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative for immigration court help has resulted in people losing cases they might otherwise have won. Verify any representative's credentials before paying for help.
The Removal Proceeding: Step by Step
Step one: The Notice to Appear
A removal proceeding begins when DHS issues a Notice to Appear (NTA). This document is the charging document in immigration court. It states the government's position that the person is removable, identifies the legal basis for that claim, and directs the person to appear before an immigration court. The NTA may or may not include a date and time for the first hearing when it is served. If it does not, the respondent will receive a separate hearing notice from the court.
Keeping the immigration court and DHS informed of any address change is required by law. If a hearing notice is sent to an old address and the respondent does not appear, the immigration judge can issue an order of removal in the respondent's absence. That in absentia order can be very difficult to reopen. Use Form EOIR-33 to update address with the court, and separately notify the DHS OPLA office. Both must be done within five days of any address change.
Step two: The Master Calendar Hearing
The first court appearance is called a master calendar hearing. Master calendar hearings are short administrative proceedings where the immigration judge manages the case, confirms the respondent understands the charges and their rights, asks about legal representation, and sets the schedule for what comes next. Multiple cases are typically heard on the same master calendar docket in a single session.
At master calendar hearings, the respondent enters a plea to the charges in the NTA, identifies any forms of relief from removal they intend to apply for, and establishes a timeline for submitting applications and evidence. If the respondent does not have an attorney at the first master calendar hearing, they can typically ask the judge for additional time to find one.
Step three: The Individual Hearing
After the master calendar stage, the case moves toward an individual hearing, also called a merits hearing. This is the full evidentiary proceeding where the respondent presents their case for relief from removal. The immigration judge hears testimony, receives evidence, and may question the respondent and witnesses. The DHS trial attorney presents the government's position. At the end, the judge issues a decision.
Common forms of relief from removal include asylum, withholding of removal, protection under the Convention Against Torture, cancellation of removal, adjustment of status, and voluntary departure. Whether any form of relief is available depends on the specific facts of each case and the respondent's immigration and criminal history. An immigration attorney can evaluate which forms of relief may apply.
Step four: Bond Hearings
If a respondent is detained, they may request a bond hearing before an immigration judge. A bond hearing is a separate proceeding from the removal hearing. At a bond hearing, the immigration judge determines whether the respondent should be released from detention pending the outcome of their case, and if so, at what bond amount. The judge considers factors including flight risk and danger to the community.
Not everyone in detention is eligible for a standard bond hearing. People subject to mandatory detention under federal law do not have the right to a standard bond hearing before an immigration judge. They may seek release through the federal courts by filing a habeas corpus petition, but that is a separate legal action from the immigration court proceeding.
For detained respondents at Etowah County Detention Center in Gadsden, bond hearing requests go through the Oakdale Immigration Court. Hearings are typically conducted by video teleconference.
Step five: The Decision and Appeal
After the individual hearing, the immigration judge issues a written decision. If the judge grants relief, the respondent may remain in the United States under whatever status was granted. If the judge orders removal, the respondent has the right to appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA).
The BIA is located in Falls Church, Virginia, and handles appeals from immigration courts nationwide. An appeal to the BIA must be filed within 30 calendar days of the immigration judge's decision. Missing that deadline forfeits the appeal right.
If the BIA affirms the removal order, the respondent may seek review in the federal circuit court. Alabama falls within the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. A petition for review of a BIA decision must be filed in the Eleventh Circuit within 30 days of the BIA's order.
How to Find Hearing Information
EOIR Automated Case Information System: 800-898-7180 (English and Spanish; TDD: 800-828-1120). Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Online: acis.eoir.justice.gov. The A-Number (Alien Registration Number) is required to look up case information.
EOIR court finder by ZIP code: justice.gov/eoir/find-immigration-court-and-access-internet-based-hearings
New Orleans Immigration Court (Alabama non-detained cases): One Canal Place, 365 Canal Street, Suite 500, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130. Email: NewOrleans.Immigration.Court@usdoj.gov
Oakdale Immigration Court (Alabama detained cases, including Etowah County): 1900 East Whatley Road, Oakdale, Louisiana 71463. Email: Oakdale.Immigration.Court@usdoj.gov. Public hours: Monday through Friday 8 AM to 4:30 PM; window filing hours 8 AM to 4 PM.
If You Miss a Hearing
Missing an immigration court hearing is one of the most serious events in a removal case. If a respondent does not appear at a scheduled hearing and has been properly notified, the immigration judge will typically issue an in absentia order of removal. That order removes the respondent in their absence and can be very difficult to undo.
An in absentia order can sometimes be reopened, but only under limited circumstances: if the respondent can show they did not receive proper notice, or that exceptional circumstances beyond their control prevented attendance. If a hearing has been missed, contact an immigration attorney immediately.
How Detention Connects to the Court Process
Detention and removal proceedings are separate matters. A person can be in removal proceedings without being detained (non-detained docket), or they can be detained while their case moves through court (detained docket). The detained docket generally moves faster.
For families with a loved one detained in Alabama, the InmateAid guide to ICE detention in Alabama covers the Etowah County Detention Center in detail, including how to locate a detained person, visiting procedures, phone access, and sending money.
Legal Resources for Alabama Respondents
Legal Services Alabama - legalservicesalabama.org | 866-456-4822 - Free civil legal services for low-income Alabamans including immigration matters. Multiple regional offices statewide.
Catholic Social Services of Mobile - cssdiocesemob.org | 251-434-1550 - Immigration legal services in the Mobile and southwest Alabama region.
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Birmingham - ccbirmingham.org | 205-324-6561 - Immigration legal services in the Birmingham metro area.
CLINIC Affiliates - cliniclegal.org - Catholic Legal Immigration Network affiliates in Alabama. Search by ZIP code for the nearest accredited representative organization.
EOIR Free Legal Services List - justice.gov/eoir/free-legal-services-providers - Court-maintained list of attorneys and organizations providing free or low-cost immigration representation. Also available by calling 800-898-7180.
Immigration Court Online Resource (ICOR) - Available through the EOIR website - Self-help materials explaining court procedures for respondents who do not have an attorney.
This page provides factual information about the immigration court process as it applies to Alabama. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Immigration law is complex and individual circumstances vary significantly. Consult a licensed immigration attorney or DOJ-accredited representative for advice specific to your situation.
Immigration law and agency policy change. Court jurisdictions, hearing locations, and procedures are subject to change without notice. Always verify current court information using the EOIR Automated Case Information System at 800-898-7180 or at justice.gov/eoir. The information on this page reflects conditions as of June 2026.