Bill > HR3101

This bill, known as the "SHIELD Act" (Securing Help for Immigrants through Education and Legal Development Act), authorizes the Attorney General to provide competitive grants to states, local governments, and organizations to support legal representation for individuals facing deportation. The bill addresses the current lack of government-funded legal representation in immigration proceedings, where an estimated 80 percent of individuals are unrepresented. Grants can be used for workforce development, including recruiting and training lawyers, social workers, and community navigators, improving legal services infrastructure, and expanding representation capacity in areas with significant unmet legal needs. Eligible entities include state and local governments that have already allocated funds for immigration legal services, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions. The grants aim to provide high-quality, linguistically appropriate legal services, with a focus on supporting underrepresented backgrounds and addressing systemic inequities in the immigration system. The bill authorizes $100 million in appropriations annually through 2027 and requires rigorous accountability measures, including annual reporting and audits to prevent waste and ensure effective use of funds. The underlying goal is to improve due process rights for immigrants by increasing access to legal representation and building a more robust legal services ecosystem.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3101/all-info