California has more immigration courts than any other state, reflecting both the size of the state's immigrant population and the scale of immigration enforcement and detention operations here. There are eleven EOIR courts across nine locations: Adelanto, Concord, Imperial, Los Angeles (three courts), Otay Mesa, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa Ana. Each court has jurisdiction over a specific set of DHS offices, detention facilities, and geographic areas.
Which court handles a case depends on where the person was arrested, which DHS office issued the charging document, and whether the person is detained or not. This page explains how to identify the right court, how the removal proceeding process works, and where to find legal help.
California's Immigration Courts
Adelanto Immigration Court
10250 Rancho Road, Suite 201A, Adelanto, CA 92301
Covers detainees at the Adelanto Detention Facilities (East and West), Adelanto Desert View, Victorville Federal Correctional Institute, Golden State Annex Correctional Facility in McFarland, California Correctional Center, and California City Correctional Center (females). Additional hearing location: Mesa Verde Detention Facility in Bakersfield.
Concord Immigration Court
1855 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 850, Concord, CA 94520
Covers California Correctional Center, Jamestown Correctional Center, and El Centro Correctional Facility hearing locations.
Imperial Immigration Court
2409 La Brucherie Road, Imperial, CA 92251
Handles non-MPP cases from the Calexico port of entry area. Additional hearing location: Imperial Regional Detention Facility.
Los Angeles - North Los Angeles Street Immigration Court
300 North Los Angeles Street, Room 4330, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Covers the Los Angeles DHS District Office including sub-offices.
Los Angeles - West Los Angeles Immigration Court
5245 Pacific Concourse Drive, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90045
Handles non-detained respondents only. Jurisdiction covers charging documents issued by the Los Angeles DHS District Office for non-detained cases.
Los Angeles - Van Nuys Immigration Court
6230 Van Nuys Boulevard, 3rd Floor, Suite 300, Van Nuys, CA 91401
Handles Los Angeles area cases as assigned.
Otay Mesa Immigration Court
7488 Calzada de la Fuente, San Diego, CA 92154
Covers DHS detention facilities in the Otay Mesa area. Additional hearing locations: Yuma Sector Centralized Processing Center and San Diego Sector Pogo Row Soft-Sided Facility.
Sacramento Immigration Court
John Moss Federal Building
650 Capitol Mall, Suite 4-200, Sacramento, CA 95814
Covers Reno, Nevada DHS sub-office for non-detained cases. Additional hearing location: Reno, NV remote site.
San Diego Immigration Court
880 Front Street, Suite 4240, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-510-4500
Covers the San Diego DHS District Office including sub-offices and the San Ysidro port of entry. Additional hearing location: Donovan California State Prison in San Diego.
San Francisco Immigration Court
100 Montgomery Street, Suite 800, San Francisco, CA 94104
Covers the San Francisco DHS District Office including sub-offices.
Note: EOIR announced closure of the San Francisco Immigration Court. As of May 2026, EOIR had stopped holding hearings at the Montgomery Street location. Verify the current status of this court using the EOIR court finder at justice.gov/eoir/find-immigration-court-and-access-internet-based-hearings or call 800-898-7180 before filing or traveling.
Santa Ana Immigration Court
1241 E. Dyer Road, Suite 200, Santa Ana, CA 92705
Covers the Santa Ana DHS District Office including sub-offices.
Always use the EOIR Automated Case Information System at 800-898-7180 or review the hearing notice to confirm which court has jurisdiction over a specific case. Court assignments in California are detailed and shift-sensitive.
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 concerns. Not having a free attorney does not mean going without legal help. Legal aid organizations and nonprofits provide free or reduced-cost representation. Resources appear at the end of this page.
A word on notario fraud: in many countries, a notario publico is a licensed legal professional. In the United States, that title has no equivalent legal standing. Notarios, immigration consultants, and non-lawyers cannot represent people in immigration court and cannot legally provide immigration advice. Verify any representative's credentials before paying. Only a licensed attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative can 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 identifies the grounds for removal and directs the person to appear before an immigration court. The NTA may or may not include a hearing date 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. Multiple cases are heard in the same session.
At master calendar, the respondent enters a plea to the NTA charges, identifies forms of relief they intend 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 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 from removal. The judge hears testimony, receives evidence, and may question the respondent and witnesses. The DHS trial attorney presents the government's case. The judge then issues a decision.
Common forms of relief 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. The judge determines whether the respondent should be released pending their case, and at what bond amount, based on flight risk and danger to the community.
Not all detained respondents 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 via a habeas corpus petition.
For detained respondents in California, the bond hearing is handled by whichever immigration court controls their detained case. Use the ACIS at 800-898-7180 to confirm.
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. California falls within the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. 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
Adelanto: 10250 Rancho Road, Suite 201A, Adelanto, CA 92301
Concord: 1855 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 850, Concord, CA 94520
Imperial: 2409 La Brucherie Road, Imperial, CA 92251
Los Angeles - North Los Angeles Street: 300 N. Los Angeles Street, Room 4330, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Los Angeles - West Los Angeles: 5245 Pacific Concourse Drive, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90045
Los Angeles - Van Nuys: 6230 Van Nuys Boulevard, 3rd Floor, Suite 300, Van Nuys, CA 91401
Otay Mesa: 7488 Calzada de la Fuente, San Diego, CA 92154
Sacramento: 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 4-200, Sacramento, CA 95814
San Diego: 880 Front Street, Suite 4240, San Diego, CA 92101 | 619-510-4500
San Francisco: 100 Montgomery Street, Suite 800, San Francisco, CA 94104 - VOLATILE, verify current status
Santa Ana: 1241 E. Dyer Road, Suite 200, Santa Ana, CA 92705
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.
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 California, the InmateAid guide to ICE detention in California covers detention facilities including Adelanto, Mesa Verde, Golden State Annex, and others, including how to locate a detained person, visiting, phone, and money access.
Legal Resources for California Respondents
Immigrant Legal Defense (ILD) - immigrantlegaldefense.org | 510-390-8991 - Provides legal representation for people in immigration proceedings including detained cases in Northern California.
Centro Legal de la Raza - centrolegal.org | 510-437-1554 - Immigration legal services in the Oakland and Bay Area.
Inland Counties Legal Services - iclslaw.org | 888-245-4257 - Free immigration legal services in the Inland Empire, including for Adelanto detainees.
Public Law Center - publiclawcenter.org | 714-541-1010 | Santa Ana - Free immigration legal services in Orange County.
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) - chirla.org | 213-201-8900 - Legal services and representation across Southern California.
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights - lccrsf.org | 415-543-9444 - Immigration legal services in Northern California.
CLINIC Affiliates - cliniclegal.org - Catholic Legal Immigration Network accredited organizations across California. Search by ZIP code.
EOIR Free Legal Services List - justice.gov/eoir/free-legal-services-providers - Lists attorneys and organizations providing free or low-cost representation for each California immigration court.
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 California. 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. The San Francisco Immigration Court closure announced May 2026 is an example of how quickly court infrastructure can shift. 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.