Fairness to Freedom Act of 2025

Summary

Fairness to Freedom Act of 2025 This bill establishes a right to legal representation in certain immigration proceedings (e.g., removal and immigration bond hearings) at the government's expense for individuals who cannot afford representation. The bill also establishes various entities to facilitate such legal representation. Currently, individuals in these immigration proceedings may be represented by counsel but not at government expense. The bill addresses various issues related to such legal representation, including (1) the scope of the representation, (2) criteria for determining whether the individual is financially unable to afford representation, and (3) requirements relating to allowing the individual to meet with their lawyer and receiving relevant documents. Immigration proceedings may not commence until counsel has been appointed. The bill also establishes the Office of Immigration Representation to ensure that qualified individuals who cannot afford legal representation receive the representation as required by this bill. The office's duties shall include establishing (1) administrative regions throughout the United States, and (2) a local immigration representation board for each region. The local boards must, subject to the office's approval, develop and implement plans for providing legal representation under this bill. To provide such legal representation, the local boards may (1) establish one or more immigrant public defender organizations, (2) contract with existing community defender organizations, and (3) establish a panel attorney system. The bill establishes minimum funding requirements for the office.

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Timeline

1. 30 April 2025

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 30 April 2025

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 30 April 2025

   Introduced

   Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

   Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

2 official files

• Introduced in House

  Introduced in House · EN · 30 April 2025

  DownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 30 April 2025

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Norma Torres · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] · D · Sponsor
• Pramila Jayapal · D · Sponsor
• Rashida Tlaib · D · Cosponsor
• Judy Chu · D · Cosponsor
• Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] · D · Cosponsor
• Delia Ramirez · D · Cosponsor
• Daniel Goldman · D · Cosponsor
• Henry Johnson · D · Cosponsor
• Mike Quigley · D · Cosponsor
• Shri Thanedar · D · Cosponsor
• Andrea Salinas · D · Cosponsor
• Jasmine Crockett · D · Cosponsor
• Diana DeGette · D · Cosponsor
• Robert Garcia · D · Cosponsor
• · hsju00 · Standing

Related records

• related to ← Fairness to Freedom Act of 2026