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Access to Counsel Act

USA119th CongressHR-944| House 
| Updated: 2/4/2025
Pramila Jayapal

Pramila Jayapal

Democratic Representative

Washington

Cosponsors (71)
Dwight Evans (Democratic)Nikema Williams (Democratic)Yassamin Ansari (Democratic)Becca Balint (Democratic)Gilbert Ray Cisneros (Democratic)Sylvia R. Garcia (Democratic)Jared Huffman (Democratic)Raúl M. Grijalva (Democratic)Mark Pocan (Democratic)Ilhan Omar (Democratic)Juan Vargas (Democratic)Maxine Dexter (Democratic)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)Eric Swalwell (Democratic)Melanie A. Stansbury (Democratic)Delia C. Ramirez (Democratic)Greg Casar (Democratic)Adriano Espaillat (Democratic)Shri Thanedar (Democratic)Danny K. Davis (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Ro Khanna (Democratic)George Latimer (Democratic)Jasmine Crockett (Democratic)Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (Democratic)Derek Tran (Democratic)Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (Democratic)André Carson (Democratic)Mark DeSaulnier (Democratic)Jill N. Tokuda (Democratic)Daniel S. Goldman (Democratic)Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democratic)Jerrold Nadler (Democratic)LaMonica McIver (Democratic)Sydney Kamlager-Dove (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Val T. Hoyle (Democratic)Mary Gay Scanlon (Democratic)Wesley Bell (Democratic)Lateefah Simon (Democratic)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Mike Quigley (Democratic)Lois Frankel (Democratic)Sean Casten (Democratic)Diana DeGette (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Democratic)Summer L. Lee (Democratic)Adam Smith (Democratic)Nydia M. Velázquez (Democratic)Julia Brownley (Democratic)Sarah McBride (Democratic)Yvette D. Clarke (Democratic)Suzanne Bonamici (Democratic)Lizzie Fletcher (Democratic)Linda T. Sánchez (Democratic)Zoe Lofgren (Democratic)Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democratic)Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democratic)Teresa Leger Fernandez (Democratic)Gwen Moore (Democratic)Grace Meng (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Ayanna Pressley (Democratic)Veronica Escobar (Democratic)Lloyd Doggett (Democratic)Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democratic)Chellie Pingree (Democratic)Judy Chu (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "Access to Counsel Act" aims to clarify and strengthen the rights of individuals undergoing inspection at U.S. ports of entry or facilities overseen by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to ensure that covered individuals have a meaningful opportunity to consult with counsel and an interested party during secondary or deferred inspection processes. Specifically, the bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide this consultation opportunity within one hour of secondary inspection commencing and throughout the process. Counsel and interested parties are permitted to advocate for the individual, including by providing information and documentation to immigration officers. The Department must also accommodate requests for in-person appearances by counsel or interested parties to the greatest extent practicable. A significant provision establishes a special rule for lawful permanent residents , prohibiting the acceptance of a Form I-407 (Record of Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Resident Status) unless the individual has first been given a meaningful opportunity to seek advice from counsel. This requirement can only be waived if the LPR does so knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily in writing. The Act defines "counsel" as a bar-certified attorney or an accredited representative, and "covered individual" includes U.S. nationals, LPRs, visa holders, refugees, asylees, and parolees subject to inspection.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-5581
Access to Counsel Act of 2020

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-1573
Access to Counsel Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-666
Access to Counsel Act
Feb 4, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-391
Introduced in Senate
Feb 4, 2025
Introduced in House
Feb 4, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-5581
    Access to Counsel Act of 2020


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-1573
    Access to Counsel Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-666
    Access to Counsel Act


  • February 4, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-391
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 4, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • February 4, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Immigration

Related Bills

  • S 119-391: Access to Counsel Act of 2025

Access to Counsel Act

USA119th CongressHR-944| House 
| Updated: 2/4/2025
The "Access to Counsel Act" aims to clarify and strengthen the rights of individuals undergoing inspection at U.S. ports of entry or facilities overseen by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to ensure that covered individuals have a meaningful opportunity to consult with counsel and an interested party during secondary or deferred inspection processes. Specifically, the bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide this consultation opportunity within one hour of secondary inspection commencing and throughout the process. Counsel and interested parties are permitted to advocate for the individual, including by providing information and documentation to immigration officers. The Department must also accommodate requests for in-person appearances by counsel or interested parties to the greatest extent practicable. A significant provision establishes a special rule for lawful permanent residents , prohibiting the acceptance of a Form I-407 (Record of Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Resident Status) unless the individual has first been given a meaningful opportunity to seek advice from counsel. This requirement can only be waived if the LPR does so knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily in writing. The Act defines "counsel" as a bar-certified attorney or an accredited representative, and "covered individual" includes U.S. nationals, LPRs, visa holders, refugees, asylees, and parolees subject to inspection.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-5581
Access to Counsel Act of 2020

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-1573
Access to Counsel Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-666
Access to Counsel Act
Feb 4, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-391
Introduced in Senate
Feb 4, 2025
Introduced in House
Feb 4, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-5581
    Access to Counsel Act of 2020


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-1573
    Access to Counsel Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-666
    Access to Counsel Act


  • February 4, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-391
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 4, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • February 4, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Pramila Jayapal

Pramila Jayapal

Democratic Representative

Washington

Cosponsors (71)
Dwight Evans (Democratic)Nikema Williams (Democratic)Yassamin Ansari (Democratic)Becca Balint (Democratic)Gilbert Ray Cisneros (Democratic)Sylvia R. Garcia (Democratic)Jared Huffman (Democratic)Raúl M. Grijalva (Democratic)Mark Pocan (Democratic)Ilhan Omar (Democratic)Juan Vargas (Democratic)Maxine Dexter (Democratic)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)Eric Swalwell (Democratic)Melanie A. Stansbury (Democratic)Delia C. Ramirez (Democratic)Greg Casar (Democratic)Adriano Espaillat (Democratic)Shri Thanedar (Democratic)Danny K. Davis (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Ro Khanna (Democratic)George Latimer (Democratic)Jasmine Crockett (Democratic)Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (Democratic)Derek Tran (Democratic)Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (Democratic)André Carson (Democratic)Mark DeSaulnier (Democratic)Jill N. Tokuda (Democratic)Daniel S. Goldman (Democratic)Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democratic)Jerrold Nadler (Democratic)LaMonica McIver (Democratic)Sydney Kamlager-Dove (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Val T. Hoyle (Democratic)Mary Gay Scanlon (Democratic)Wesley Bell (Democratic)Lateefah Simon (Democratic)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Mike Quigley (Democratic)Lois Frankel (Democratic)Sean Casten (Democratic)Diana DeGette (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Democratic)Summer L. Lee (Democratic)Adam Smith (Democratic)Nydia M. Velázquez (Democratic)Julia Brownley (Democratic)Sarah McBride (Democratic)Yvette D. Clarke (Democratic)Suzanne Bonamici (Democratic)Lizzie Fletcher (Democratic)Linda T. Sánchez (Democratic)Zoe Lofgren (Democratic)Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democratic)Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democratic)Teresa Leger Fernandez (Democratic)Gwen Moore (Democratic)Grace Meng (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Ayanna Pressley (Democratic)Veronica Escobar (Democratic)Lloyd Doggett (Democratic)Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democratic)Chellie Pingree (Democratic)Judy Chu (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

Immigration

Related Bills

  • S 119-391: Access to Counsel Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted