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Right to Free Legal Counsel in Deportation and Immigration Cases.

This law guarantees the right to free legal assistance for low-income individuals facing deportation or removal from the United States. It establishes an independent Office of Immigration Representation to ensure continuous, high-quality defense at all stages of proceedings. Seeking this assistance will not negatively affect an individual's immigration status.
Key points
Guarantees free legal counsel for low-income individuals in deportation, exclusion, and detention proceedings.
Proceedings cannot begin until counsel is appointed; if access to counsel is denied, statements made by the detainee cannot be used as evidence.
Establishes an independent Office of Immigration Representation (OIR) with minimum funding tied to immigration enforcement budgets to ensure resource parity.
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Expired
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Additional Information
Print number: 118_S_1187
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Process start date: 2023-04-18
Lustra uses Artificial Intelligence. Verify details in source documents.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-09-2025
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Fairness to Freedom Act of 2023

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 118_S_1187.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the Senate.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2023-04-18.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Guarantees free legal counsel for low-income individuals in deportation, exclusion, and detention proceedings.
  • Proceedings cannot begin until counsel is appointed; if access to counsel is denied, statements made by the detainee cannot be used as evidence.
  • Establishes an independent Office of Immigration Representation (OIR) with minimum funding tied to immigration enforcement budgets to ensure resource parity.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Introduced in Senate

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-26.

CATEGORIES

Migration Courts and Law