S. 1297 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Apr 3, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryLegal protections for non-citizens in immigration court
This bill ensures that non-citizens facing immigration proceedings have legal representation. The government would pay for lawyers to represent people, including unaccompanied children, in immigration court and appeals. It also requires immigration officials to share case files with non-citizens and their lawyers within a week, and guarantees that detained non-citizens can access counsel.
How it affects you
If you're a non-citizen in immigration proceedings, you would have the right to government-paid legal representation. Unaccompanied children in these situations would be guaranteed a lawyer at every stage unless their family pays for one. Immigration officials would face delays if they fail to provide the required legal support or case files.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Apr 3, 2025)
Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2025
This bill provides legal protections for a non-U.S. national (alien under federal law) who is detained or subject to immigration-related proceedings.
The Department of Justice (DOJ), or the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in a case involving an unaccompanied child, may appoint or provide counsel at the government's expense to non-U.S. nationals in removal proceedings and related appeals.
An unaccompanied child must be represented by counsel paid for and appointed by the government at every stage of such proceedings unless the child has obtained counsel at their own expense. If HHS fails to provide counsel to an unaccompanied child, the child's deadline for filing a motion to reopen a removal proceeding shall not apply, and the filing of such a motion shall stay the child's removal from the United States.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must provide a complete copy of a non-U.S. national's immigration file to the non-U.S. national (or the non-U.S. national's counsel) within seven days of a notice to appear for an immigration proceeding, and failure to provide the file shall result in a delay in the proceeding.
DHS must provide access to counsel for all detained non-U.S. nationals.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement must develop model guidelines for representing non-U.S. national children in immigration proceedings.
HHS must annually report on the extent to which it has provided counsel for unaccompanied children under this bill.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 1297
A BILL
Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) · Introduced Apr 3, 2025 · Immigration · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Apr 3, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.”
Sections
Sections · 8
- Sec. 1Short titleNo change
- Sec. 2DefinitionsNo change
- Sec. 3References to aliensNo change
- Sec. 4Improving immigration court efficiency and reducing costs by increasing access to legal informationNo change
- Sec. 5Access by counsel to Department of Homeland Security facilitiesNo change
- Sec. 6Report on access to counselNo change
- Sec. 7Motions to reopenNo change
- Sec. 8Authorization of appropriationsNo change