Bill > HR3127

This bill establishes the right to counsel at government expense for individuals facing immigration removal proceedings who cannot afford legal representation. The Fairness to Freedom Act of 2025 creates a new Office of Immigration Representation, a independent nonprofit organization responsible for ensuring high-quality legal representation for immigrants in various immigration-related proceedings. The bill mandates that counsel be appointed for financially eligible individuals at the earliest stages of proceedings, including detention, and provides comprehensive representation that covers not just court appearances but also related legal matters such as post-conviction relief and habeas corpus petitions. The legislation establishes detailed procedures for appointing counsel, including creating local immigration representation boards in different regions, developing an attorney panel system, and setting standards for representation quality. Importantly, the bill ensures continuous representation throughout all stages of proceedings, from initial appearance through potential Supreme Court review, and prohibits using the receipt of appointed counsel as a basis for determining whether someone might become a public charge. The bill also provides for funding mechanisms, including a unique calculation method that ties the Office of Immigration Representation's budget to federal immigration enforcement spending, and authorizes appropriations to support the establishment and operation of this new system of legal representation.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3127/all-info