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Carlos Maury Law
Former Immigration Judge
(213) 769-0050
9th Circuit

California Immigration Courts

California has ten EOIR immigration courts, more than any state but Texas, all in the Ninth Circuit. Five serve the Los Angeles area; San Diego, Otay Mesa and Imperial serve the border region; Concord and Sacramento serve Northern California. Detained dockets are heard at Adelanto and Otay Mesa, inside detention facilities, and at Imperial. EOIR permanently closed the San Francisco Immigration Court on September 4, 2026: its cases moved to Concord, and its Sansome Street site is now a Concord hearing location.

Carlos Maury, a former U.S. Immigration Judge, represents clients before these courts. Carlos Maury is licensed in Florida. Practice limited to federal immigration law; we represent clients in all 50 states. Call (213) 769-0050 — hablamos español.

Courts in California

For the south of the state, see Southern California immigration courts — including San Diego, Otay Mesa and Imperial, and which court hears which case — and the Los Angeles-area courts.

Detained cases in California

A detained person can ask for a bond hearing where the law allows it.

Which court is my case in?

Your Notice to Appear or latest hearing notice names it; look it up with your A-number in EOIR's case information system (opens in new tab). A judge may move a case to another court for good cause (8 C.F.R. § 1003.20 (opens in new tab)). Step by step: how to check your immigration court date.

Appeals: the 9th Circuit

After a final BIA order, a petition for review from California courts goes to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit within 30 days (8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(1)–(2) (opens in new tab)). The BIA follows 9th Circuit precedent in cases from California (Matter of Anselmo, 20 I&N Dec. 25 (BIA 1989) (opens in new tab)).

News from these courts

All firm news

Need a defense in these courts? See our deportation defense lawyer page — a former U.S. Immigration Judge — and our immigration bond lawyer page. We also handle asylum, criminal immigration, green card, marriage green card, K-1 fiancé visa, TPS, U visa and VAWA, waiver, appeals and citizenship cases.

Frequently asked questions

How many immigration courts are in California?

EOIR has 10 open court locations in California: Los Angeles Immigration Court, West LA Immigration Court, Van Nuys Immigration Court, Santa Ana Immigration Court, Adelanto Immigration Court, San Diego Immigration Court, Otay Mesa Immigration Court, Imperial Immigration Court, Concord Immigration Court and Sacramento Immigration Court. EOIR closed the San Francisco Immigration Court on September 4, 2026; its cases went to the Concord Immigration Court.

Which California immigration courts hear detained cases?

Adelanto Immigration Court, Otay Mesa Immigration Court and Imperial Immigration Court. If your family member is held by ICE, the case is usually heard at one of these courts. A detained person can ask for a bond hearing where the law allows it.

Which California immigration courts hear non-detained cases?

West LA Immigration Court and San Diego Immigration Court.

Is the San Francisco Immigration Court still open?

No. EOIR permanently closed the San Francisco Immigration Court at the close of business on September 4, 2026. Its court operations moved to the Concord Immigration Court, which now handles its cases, and its Sansome Street location became a hearing location under the Concord court's administrative control. EOIR sends new hearing notices to everyone whose case is reassigned.

Which immigration courts serve Northern California?

Two open courts: the Concord Immigration Court, at 1855 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 850, Concord, which took over the San Francisco court's cases, and the Sacramento Immigration Court, at John Moss Federal Building, 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 4-200, Sacramento. The former San Francisco court's Sansome Street site is now a hearing location of the Concord court. Your hearing notice says which court, and which address, to go to.

How do I find which California court has my case?

Your Notice to Appear or latest hearing notice names the court. To confirm it, enter your A-number in EOIR's Automated Case Information portal (acis.eoir.justice.gov) or call EOIR's line at 1-800-898-7180, available 24 hours a day in English and Spanish. If your notice still names the San Francisco Immigration Court, your case is now with the Concord Immigration Court.

Can I attend my California immigration hearing by video?

Sometimes. The law allows immigration hearings by video conference (8 U.S.C. § 1229a(b)(2)(A)(iii)), and EOIR lists which courts hold internet-based hearings, and how to join, on its “Find an Immigration Court and Access Internet-Based Hearings” page. The court or the judge decides: unless your notice or the judge allows a remote appearance, plan to appear in person at the address on your notice.

What happens if I miss my hearing at a California immigration court?

If you were properly notified and do not appear, the judge can order you removed in your absence (8 U.S.C. § 1229a(b)(5)(A)). That in absentia order can be reopened only in limited cases: by a motion filed within 180 days showing exceptional circumstances, or at any time if you did not receive proper notice or were in federal or state custody through no fault of your own (8 U.S.C. § 1229a(b)(5)(C)). Act quickly.

How do I change my address or move my case to another California court?

File Form EOIR-33/IC with the court that has your case within five days of moving (8 C.F.R. § 1003.15(d)(2)). A new address does not transfer the case: only the judge can change venue, on a motion showing good cause (8 C.F.R. § 1003.20). Until the judge grants it, keep attending hearings at your current court, even if you moved from Northern to Southern California.

Do you take cases at every California immigration court?

Yes. Immigration court practice is federal, and Carlos Maury, a former U.S. Immigration Judge licensed in Florida, represents clients before all 10 open California immigration courts and nationwide. The firm's office is in Van Nuys, in the San Fernando Valley, by appointment only: call (213) 769-0050 (hablamos español). No lawyer can promise an outcome.