FAIR Proceedings Act

To provide access to counsel for children and other vulnerable populations. 1. Short titles This Act may be cited as the Funding Attorneys for Indigent Removal Proceedings Act FAIR Proceedings Act 2. Improving immigration court efficiency and reducing costs by increasing access to legal information (a) Appointment of counsel in certain cases; right To review certain documents in removal proceedings Section 240(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1229a(b) (1) in paragraph (4)— (A) in subparagraph (A)— (i) by striking , at no expense to the Government, (ii) by striking the comma at the end and inserting a semicolon; (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively; (C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following: (B) the Attorney General may appoint or provide counsel, at Government expense, to the alien; (C) the alien, at the beginning of such proceedings or as expeditiously as possible, shall automatically receive a complete copy of all relevant documents in the possession of the Department of Homeland Security (unless the alien waives the right to receive such documents by executing a knowing and voluntary written waiver in a language that he or she understands fluently), including— (i) all documents (other than documents protected from disclosure by privilege and documents containing national security information referred to in subparagraph (D), law enforcement sensitive information, or information prohibited from disclosure pursuant to any other provision of law) contained in the file maintained by the Government that includes information with respect to all transactions involving the alien during the immigration process (commonly referred to as an A-file (ii) all documents pertaining to the alien that the Department of Homeland Security has obtained or received from other government agencies; ; and (D) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated, by striking , and ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (8) Failure to provide alien required documents In the absence of a waiver under paragraph (4)(C), a removal proceeding may not proceed until the alien— (A) has received the documents required under such paragraph; and (B) has been provided meaningful time to review and assess such documents. . (b) Clarification regarding the authority of the Attorney General To appoint counsel to aliens in immigration proceedings Section 292 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1362 (1) by striking In any (a) In general In any proceeding conducted under section 235, 236, 238, 240, or 241, or under any other section of this Act, including ; (2) in subsection (a), as redesignated— (A) by striking (at no expense to the Government) (B) by striking he shall the person shall (3) by adding at the end the following: (b) Access to counsel The Attorney General may appoint or provide counsel to aliens in any proceeding conducted under section 235, 236, 238, 240, or 241, or under any other section of this Act. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure that aliens have access to counsel inside all immigration detention and border facilities. . (c) Appointment of counsel for children and vulnerable aliens (1) In general Section 292 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by subsection (b), is further amended by adding at the end the following: (c) Children and vulnerable aliens Notwithstanding subsection (b), the Attorney General shall appoint or provide counsel, at the expense of the Government, if necessary, at the beginning of immigration proceedings, or as expeditiously as possible, to represent in such proceedings any alien who has been determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to be— (1) a child; (2) a person with a disability; (3) a victim of abuse, torture, or violence; (4) an individual whose income is at or below 200 percent of the poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management and Budget and revised annually in accordance with section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9902(2) (5) an individual whose circumstances require the appointment of counsel to help ensure the fair resolution and efficient adjudication of the proceedings. (d) Extension to consolidated cases If the Attorney General has consolidated the case of an alien for whom counsel was appointed under subsection (c) with the case of another alien who does not have counsel, the counsel appointed under subsection (c) shall be appointed to represent such other alien. (e) Authorization of appropriations In addition to amounts available in the Immigration Counsel Account under section 295, there is authorized to be appropriated to the Executive Office of Immigration Review of the Department of Justice, such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. . (2) Rulemaking The Attorney General shall promulgate regulations to implement section 292(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by paragraph (1), in accordance with the requirements set forth in section 3006A of title 18, United States Code. 3. Access by counsel and legal orientation at detention facilities (a) Access to counsel The Secretary of Homeland Security shall facilitate access to counsel for all aliens detained in facilities under the supervision of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, including providing information to such aliens regarding legal services programs at detention facilities. (b) Access to legal orientation programs (1) Procedures The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall establish procedures— (A) to ensure that legal orientation programs are available for all detained aliens, including aliens held in U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities; and (B) to inform such aliens of— (i) the basic procedures of immigration hearings; (ii) their rights relating to such hearings under Federal immigration laws; (iii) information that may deter such aliens from filing frivolous legal claims; and (iv) any other information that the Attorney General considers appropriate, such as a contact list of potential legal resources and providers. (2) Universal availability Access to legal orientation programs under paragraph (1) may not be limited by the alien’s current immigration status, prior immigration history, or potential for immigration relief. 4. Report on access to counsel (a) Report Not later than December 31 of each year, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall submit a report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives (b) Contents Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall include, for the immediately preceding 1-year period— (1) the number and percentage of aliens described in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4), respectively, of section 292(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act who were represented by counsel, including information specifying— (A) the stage of the legal process at which the alien was represented; and (B) whether the alien was in government custody; and (2) the number and percentage of aliens who received legal orientation presentations. 5. Motions to reopen Section 240(c)(7)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1229a(c)(7)(C) (v) Special rule for aliens entitled to appointment of counsel If the Attorney General fails to appoint counsel for an alien in violation of section 292(c)— (I) no limitation under this paragraph pertaining to the filing of any motion under this paragraph by such alien shall apply; and (II) the filing of such a motion shall stay the removal of the alien. .

Summary: Funding Attorneys for Indigent Removal Proceedings Act or the FAIR Proceedings Act This bill expands access to counsel for aliens in immigration proceedings and provides for protections related to such proceedings. An alien shall have the privilege of being represented by counsel in any immigration proceeding, whereas currently this privilege is statutorily provided for only in removal proceedings. Similarly, the Department of Justice (DOJ) may provide counsel at government expense to aliens in any immigration proceeding, whereas currently DOJ is statutorily authorized to provide counsel to aliens only in removal proceedings and at no expense to the government. Under this bill, DOJ shall provide counsel to children and vulnerable individuals in such proceedings, at government expense if necessary. If DOJ fails to do so, certain limits on filing a motion to reopen removal proceedings (such as the time limit for filing) shall not apply, and the alien's removal shall be stayed upon the motion's filing. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall provide each alien, generally at the beginning of proceedings, a complete copy of the alien's case file in DHS possession, unless the alien waives this right in writing. Failure to provide such documents shall delay the alien's removal proceeding. DHS shall facilitate for all detained aliens access to counsel and programs that inform such aliens of their immigration-related rights and obligations.