Bill > HR8980

This bill, the Securing Help for Immigrants through Education and Legal Development (SHIELD) Act, authorizes the Attorney General to provide grants to states, local governments, and organizations to support the recruitment, training, and development of staff and infrastructure needed to provide legal representation for individuals facing deportation. The bill aims to address the lack of a right to government-funded legal counsel for those in immigration proceedings, which can have devastating consequences, and to build a sustainable legal defense workforce and infrastructure to ensure high-quality, independent representation regardless of the individual's ability to pay or the perceived strength of their case. The bill provides details on the grant program, including the use of funds, reporting requirements, and accountability measures. It also authorizes $100 million in appropriations per year through fiscal year 2026 to carry out the provisions of the act.