Georgia has three EOIR immigration courts. Two are in Atlanta and one is at the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, in southwest Georgia. The Atlanta courts handle cases from the Atlanta DHS District Office. The Stewart court handles detained cases from the Stewart and Irwin detention facilities, which together represent one of the largest concentrations of immigration detention in the country. Georgia also serves as the immigration court hub for North Carolina and South Carolina, both of which fall under the Atlanta DHS District.
Which court handles a specific case depends on which DHS office issued the charging document and whether the person is detained. This page explains how to identify the right court, how the removal proceeding process works, and where to find legal help.
Georgia's Three Immigration Courts
Atlanta W. Peachtree Street Immigration Court
Peachtree Summit Federal Building
401 W. Peachtree Street, Suite 2600, Atlanta, GA 30308
The Peachtree court covers the Atlanta DHS District Office, including sub-offices, except those in North Carolina and South Carolina. Non-detained respondents from Georgia whose cases originate from the Atlanta DHS district appear here.
Atlanta Ted Turner Drive Immigration Court
180 Ted Turner Drive, SW, Suite 241, Atlanta, GA 30303
The Ted Turner court also covers the Atlanta DHS District Office, including sub-offices except North Carolina and South Carolina. It additionally has jurisdiction over the Georgia Department of Corrections Diagnostic Center in Jackson, FCA Aliceville, Folkston ICE Detention Center (Main and Annex), Etowah County Sheriff's Office Detention Facility in Alabama, and D. Ray James Detention Facility.
Stewart Immigration Court
146 CCA Road, Lumpkin, GA 31815
The Stewart court operates at the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, one of the largest immigration detention facilities in the United States. It covers the Atlanta DHS District Office (except North Carolina and South Carolina) for detained respondents, and has specific jurisdiction over Irwin County Detention Center and Stewart Detention Center itself.
Always use the EOIR Automated Case Information System at 800-898-7180 or the hearing notice to confirm which court has jurisdiction over a specific case.
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 at Stewart Detention Center or Irwin County Detention Center, bond hearings are handled by the Stewart Immigration Court in Lumpkin. For detainees at other Atlanta-district facilities including Folkston and D. Ray James, the controlling court is the Ted Turner Drive court.
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. Georgia falls within the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. A petition for review 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. 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
Atlanta W. Peachtree Street Immigration Court: 401 W. Peachtree Street, Suite 2600, Atlanta, GA 30308
Atlanta Ted Turner Drive Immigration Court: 180 Ted Turner Drive SW, Suite 241, Atlanta, GA 30303
Stewart Immigration Court: 146 CCA Road, Lumpkin, GA 31815
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. Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin is a large, remote facility and accessing legal counsel there presents documented practical challenges due to its location in rural southwest Georgia.
For families with a detained loved one in Georgia, the InmateAid guide to ICE detention in Georgia covers Stewart, Irwin County, Folkston, D. Ray James, and other facilities, including how to locate a detained person, visiting, phone, and money access.
Legal Resources for Georgia Respondents
Georgia Detention Watch - georgiadetentionwatch.org | 678-832-7587 - Monitors conditions at Stewart, Irwin County, and other Georgia detention facilities. Provides legal resources and referrals for detained individuals. Primary resource for Stewart and Irwin detainees.
Southern Poverty Law Center - splcenter.org | 404-521-6700 | Atlanta - Has monitored and litigated conditions at Georgia immigration detention facilities.
Atlanta Legal Aid Society - atlantalegalaid.org | 404-524-5811 - Free civil legal services including immigration in the Atlanta area.
Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLAHR) - glahr.org | 770-962-0399 - Immigrant rights organization with legal resources and rapid response capacity.
CLINIC Affiliates - cliniclegal.org - Catholic Legal Immigration Network accredited organizations in Georgia. Search by ZIP code.
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Atlanta - catholiccharitiesatlanta.org | 404-920-7725 - Immigration legal services in metro Atlanta.
EOIR Free Legal Services List - justice.gov/eoir/free-legal-services-providers - Lists attorneys and organizations providing free or low-cost representation for each Georgia immigration court including Stewart.
Immigration Court Online Resource (ICOR) - Available through the EOIR website - Self-help materials for respondents navigating proceedings without an attorney.
This page provides factual information about the immigration court process as it applies to Georgia. 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.