Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2016”.
Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2016
A BILL
To provide access to counsel for unaccompanied children and other vulnerable populations.
Sec. 2 Improving immigration court efficiency and reducing costs by increasing access to legal information
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)) is amended—
in paragraph (4)—
in subparagraph (A)—
by striking “, at no expense to the Government,”; and
by striking the comma at the end and inserting a semicolon;
by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively;
by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
“(B) the Attorney General may appoint or provide counsel, at Government expense, to aliens in immigration proceedings;
“(C) the alien shall, at the beginning of the proceedings or as expeditiously as possible, automatically receive a complete copy of all relevant documents in the possession of the Department of Homeland Security, including all documents (other than documents protected from disclosure by privilege, including national security information referred to in subparagraph (D), law enforcement sensitive information, and 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”), and all documents pertaining to the alien that the Department of Homeland Security has obtained or received from other government agencies, 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;”
in subparagraph (D), as redesignated, by striking “, and” and inserting “; and”; and
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 as required under such paragraph; and
“(B) has been provided meaningful time to review and assess such documents.”
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) is amended—
by striking “In any” and inserting the following:
“(a) In general—In any”
in subsection (a), as redesignated—
by striking “(at no expense to the Government)”; and
by striking “he shall” and inserting “the person shall”; and
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 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.”
Appointment of counsel for unaccompanied alien children and vulnerable aliens—
In general— Section 292 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1362), as amended by subsection (b), is further amended by adding at the end the following:
“(c) Unaccompanied alien children and vulnerable aliens—Notwithstanding subsection (b), the Attorney General shall appoint counsel, at the expense of the Government if necessary, at the beginning of the 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) an unaccompanied alien child (as defined in section 462(g) of the Homeland Security Act on 2002 (6 U.S.C. 279(g)));
“(2) a particularly vulnerable individual, such as—
“(A) a person with a disability; or
“(B) a victim of abuse, torture, or violence; or
“(3) an individual whose circumstances are such that the appointment of counsel is necessary to help ensure fair resolution and efficient adjudication of the proceedings.
“(d) Authorization of appropriations—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.”
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.
Sec. 3 Access by counsel and legal orientation at detention facilities
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 aliens in detention about legal services programs at detention facilities.
Access to legal orientation programs— The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall establish procedures to ensure that legal orientation programs are available for all detained aliens, including aliens held in U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities, to inform such aliens of the basic procedures of immigration hearings, their rights relating to those hearings under Federal immigration laws, information that may deter such aliens from filing frivolous legal claims, and any other information that the Attorney General considers appropriate, such as a contact list of potential legal resources and providers. Access to legal orientation programs shall not be limited by the alien’s current immigration status, prior immigration history, or potential for immigration relief.
Pilot project for nondetained aliens in removal proceedings— The Attorney General shall develop and administer a 2-year pilot program at not fewer than 2 immigration courts to provide nondetained aliens with pending asylum claims access to legal information. At the conclusion of the pilot program, the Attorney General shall submit a report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives that describes the extent to which nondetained aliens are provided with access to counsel.
Authorization of appropriations— 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.
Sec. 4 Case management pilot program to increase court appearance rates
Contract authority— The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish a pilot program to increase the court appearance rates of aliens described in paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 292(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by section 2(c)(1), by contracting with nongovernmental, community-based organizations to provide appropriate case management services to such aliens.
Scope of services— Case management services provided under subsection (a) shall include assisting aliens with—
accessing legal counsel;
complying with court-imposed deadlines and other legal obligations;
procuring appropriate housing;
enrolling their minor children in school; and
acquiring health services, including, if needed, mental health services.
Authorization of appropriations— There is authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Homeland Security such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
Sec. 5 Report on access to counsel
Report— Not later than December 31 of each year, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall prepare and submit a report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives regarding the extent to which aliens described in section 292(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by section 2(c)(1), have been provided access to counsel.
Contents— Each report submitted under paragraph (a) shall include, for the immediately preceding 1-year period—
the number and percentage of aliens described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively, of section 292(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by section 2(c)(1), who were represented by counsel, including information specifying—
the stage of the legal process at which the alien was represented; and
whether the alien was in government custody; and
the number and percentage of aliens who received legal orientation presentations.