The Alaska Immigration Court Process: What Detained Immigrants and Families Need to Know

Alaska does not have its own EOIR immigration court. All immigration cases originating in Alaska, whether the person is detained or not, fall under the administrative control of the Portland Immigration Court in Oregon. That is the court where Alaska charging documents are filed, where hearings are scheduled, and where appeals from immigration judge decisions originate.

For families in Alaska navigating a removal proceeding, the distance factor is significant. Portland, Oregon is more than 1,500 miles from Anchorage by air. In practice, most Alaska hearings are conducted by video teleconference rather than requiring in-person travel. Still, the Portland Immigration Court is the administrative home for all Alaska immigration cases, and all filings go there.

This page explains how immigration court works for people in Alaska, how to find case and hearing information, and what the removal proceeding process looks like from the Notice to Appear through appeal.

Which Court Handles Alaska Immigration Cases

The Portland Immigration Court has administrative control over Alaska immigration cases. The EOIR administrative control court list assigns the Anchorage, Alaska DHS District Office, including any sub-offices, to the Portland Immigration Court. This covers both detained and non-detained Alaska respondents.

Portland Immigration Court

1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 500

Portland, Oregon 97204

Email: Portland.Immigration.Court@usdoj.gov

The Tacoma Immigration Court in Washington state also handles cases from the Alaska Department of Corrections for incarcerated alien inmates in state custody.

Detainees held at the Anchorage Correctional Complex or any other Alaska detention facility will typically have hearings conducted by video teleconference through the Portland court. The hearing notice will name the specific court with administrative control.

Always use the EOIR Automated Case Information System at 800-898-7180 to confirm which court is handling a specific case. The hearing notice is the controlling document.

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 employed by 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 (OPLA). The person in proceedings is called the respondent.

Being in removal proceedings is not a criminal charge and does not result in a criminal sentence. The outcome is either a grant of relief that allows 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 at their own expense. There is no right to a government-appointed attorney in immigration court, except in narrow circumstances involving serious mental competency. Not having a free lawyer does not mean going without legal help. Legal aid organizations and nonprofit immigration legal services providers offer free or reduced-cost representation. Resources are listed at the end of this page.

A word on notario fraud: in many countries, a notario publico is a licensed legal professional with real authority. In the United States, that title carries no equivalent legal standing. Notarios, immigration consultants, and non-lawyers cannot represent people in immigration court and cannot legally provide immigration legal advice. Verify any representative's credentials before paying for help. Only a licensed attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative can legally appear in immigration court on someone's behalf.

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 is the charging document in immigration court. It states the government's position that the person is removable, identifies the legal basis, and directs the person to appear before an immigration court. The NTA may or may not include a hearing date and time when served. If it does not, a separate hearing notice will arrive by mail.

Keeping the court and DHS informed of any address change is required by law. If a hearing notice goes to an old address and the respondent does not appear, the immigration judge can issue an in absentia order of removal. That order is very difficult to undo. Use Form EOIR-33 to update the court and separately notify DHS OPLA. Both must be done within five days of any move.

Step two: The Master Calendar Hearing

The first court appearance is a master calendar hearing. These are short administrative sessions where the immigration judge manages the case, confirms the respondent understands the charges and their rights, asks about legal representation, and sets the schedule going forward. Multiple cases are typically heard in the same master calendar session.

At master calendar hearings the respondent enters a plea to the charges in the NTA, identifies any forms of relief from removal they plan to seek, and establishes a timeline for filing applications and evidence. If the respondent does not have an attorney at the first hearing, they can generally ask the judge for additional time to find one.

Step three: The Individual Hearing

After master calendar, the case moves to an individual hearing, also called a merits hearing. This is the full evidentiary proceeding where the respondent presents their case for relief. The immigration judge hears testimony, receives evidence, and may question the respondent and any witnesses. The DHS trial attorney presents the government's case. At the conclusion, 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 and immigration history of each case.

Step four: Bond Hearings

If a respondent is detained, they may request a bond hearing before an immigration judge. A bond hearing is separate from the removal hearing. At a bond hearing, the judge determines whether the respondent should be released from detention pending their case, and at what bond amount. The judge considers flight risk and danger to the community.

Not all detained people are eligible for a standard bond hearing. Those subject to mandatory detention under federal law do not have that right before an immigration judge. They may seek release through the federal courts by filing a habeas corpus petition, which is a separate legal action.

For Alaska detainees, bond hearings are handled through the Portland Immigration Court, typically by video teleconference.

Step five: The Decision and Appeal

After the individual hearing, the immigration judge issues a written decision. If relief is granted, the respondent may remain in the United States under the granted status. If removal is ordered, the respondent has the right to appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) in Falls Church, Virginia.

A BIA appeal must be filed within 30 calendar days of the immigration judge's decision. Missing that deadline forfeits the right to appeal.

If the BIA affirms the removal order, the respondent may seek review in the federal circuit court. Alaska falls within the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Alaska along with Washington, Oregon, California, and several other western states and territories. A petition for review must be filed in the Ninth 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. It appears on immigration documents and on any EOIR hearing notice.

EOIR court finder by ZIP code: justice.gov/eoir/find-immigration-court-and-access-internet-based-hearings

Portland Immigration Court (all Alaska cases): 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 500, Portland, Oregon 97204. Email: Portland.Immigration.Court@usdoj.gov

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.

An in absentia order can sometimes be reopened, but only in limited circumstances: if the respondent did not receive proper notice, or if 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 detained while their case moves through court (detained docket). The detained docket generally moves faster.

For families with a detained loved one in Alaska, use the EOIR Automated Case Information System at 800-898-7180 and the ICE detainee locator at locator.ice.gov to determine where the person is held and which court has their case.

Legal Resources for Alaska Respondents

Alaska Legal Services Corporation - alsc-law.org | 907-272-9431 - Free civil legal services for low-income Alaskans including immigration matters. Offices in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and multiple rural offices.

Catholic Social Services of Anchorage - cssalaska.org | 907-276-5590 - Immigration legal services in the Anchorage area.

APIA (Alaska Public Interest Research Group) - Referral to immigration-related services statewide.

CLINIC Affiliates - cliniclegal.org - Catholic Legal Immigration Network affiliates in Alaska. Search by ZIP code for the nearest accredited representative organization.

EOIR Free Legal Services List - justice.gov/eoir/free-legal-services-providers - Maintained list of attorneys and organizations providing free or low-cost immigration representation for the Portland Immigration Court's jurisdiction, which includes Alaska.

Immigration Court Online Resource (ICOR) - Available through the EOIR website - Self-help materials explaining court procedures for respondents without an attorney.

This page provides factual information about the immigration court process as it applies to Alaska. 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.