Access to Counsel Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-1573
Sponsor: Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
Introduced: 2021-03-03 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Border security and unlawful immigration
Department of Homeland Security
Detention of persons
Evidence and witnesses
Immigration status and procedures
Lawyers and legal services
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Telephone and wireless communication
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-03
text: 

Access to Counsel Act of 2021 

 
This bill provides various protections for covered individuals subject to secondary or deferred inspections when seeking admission into the United States. Covered individuals include U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents, aliens in possession of a visa, returning asylees, and refugees.
 
The Department of Homeland Security shall ensure that a covered individual subject to secondary or deferred inspection has a meaningful opportunity to consult with counsel and certain related parties, such as a relative, within an hour of the start of the secondary inspection and as necessary during the inspection process. The counsel and related party shall be allowed to advocate on behalf of the covered individual, including by providing evidence and information to the examining immigration officer.
 
A lawful permanent resident subject to secondary or deferred inspection may not abandon lawful permanent resident status until the individual has had a meaningful opportunity to seek advice from counsel, unless the individual voluntarily and knowingly waives in writing this opportunity to seek counsel's advice. 
 
 

action_date: 2021-04-16
text: 

Access to Counsel Act of 2021 

 
This bill provides various protections for covered individuals subject to secondary or deferred inspections when seeking admission into the United States. Covered individuals include U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents, aliens in possession of a visa, returning asylees, and refugees.
 
The Department of Homeland Security shall ensure that a covered individual subject to secondary or deferred inspection has a meaningful opportunity to consult with counsel and certain related parties, such as a relative, within an hour of the start of the secondary inspection and as necessary during the inspection process. The counsel and related party shall be allowed to advocate on behalf of the covered individual, including by providing evidence and information to the examining immigration officer.
 
A lawful permanent resident subject to secondary or deferred inspection may not abandon lawful permanent resident status until the individual has had a meaningful opportunity to seek advice from counsel, unless the individual voluntarily and knowingly waives in writing this opportunity to seek counsel's advice. 


action_date: 2021-04-21
text: 

Access to Counsel Act of 2021 

 
This bill provides various protections for covered individuals subject to secondary or deferred inspections when seeking admission into the United States. Covered individuals include U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents, aliens in possession of a visa, returning asylees, and refugees.
 
The Department of Homeland Security shall ensure that a covered individual subject to secondary or deferred inspection has a meaningful opportunity to consult with counsel and certain related parties, such as a relative, within an hour of the start of the secondary inspection and as necessary during the inspection process. The counsel and related party shall be allowed to advocate on behalf of the covered individual, including by providing evidence and information to the examining immigration officer.
 
A lawful permanent resident subject to secondary or deferred inspection may not abandon lawful permanent resident status until the individual has had a meaningful opportunity to seek advice from counsel, unless the individual voluntarily and knowingly waives in writing this opportunity to seek counsel's advice. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 207 (Roll no. 129). (text: CR H2016)
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 207 (Roll no. 129).(text: CR H2016)
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 209 - 215 (Roll no. 128).
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2030-2032)
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - The Chair put the question on the Issa motion to recommit and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Issa demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: The previous question on the motion was ordered without objection.
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Mr. Issa moved to recommit to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR H2024)
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 1573.
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 51, H.R. 1573 and H.R. 1333. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments. The previous question on each measure is considered ordered without intervening motions except one hour of debate and a motion to recommit. H. Res. 316 and H. Con. Res. 30 are adopted.
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 330. (consideration: CR H2016-2025)
action_date: 2021-04-20
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 330 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 51, H.R. 1573 and H.R. 1333. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments. The previous question on each measure is considered ordered without intervening motions except one hour of debate and a motion to recommit. H. Res. 316 and H. Con. Res. 30 are adopted.
action_date: 2021-04-16
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 8.
action_date: 2021-04-16
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 117-21.
action_date: 2021-04-16
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 117-21.
action_date: 2021-04-14
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 16.
action_date: 2021-04-14
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2021-03-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-03-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-03-03
text: Introduced in House