H.R. 1573 · 117th Congress · House

Access to Counsel Act of 2021

In Congress· Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced
Mar 3, 21
Passed House
Apr 21, 21
Passed Senate
Pending
Sent to President
Pending
Signed into Law
Pending

Executive Summary

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.

Previous Versions

07Apr 16, 2021

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.

00Mar 3, 2021

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 Timeline

22
  1. APR 22, 2021IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

  2. APR 21, 2021Floor

    Considered under the provisions of rule H

    Res. 330. (consideration: CR H2016-2025)

    2016Yea
    2025Nay
    0NV
  3. APR 21, 2021Floor

    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.

  4. APR 21, 2021Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 1573.

  5. APR 21, 2021Floor

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

  6. APR 21, 2021Floor

    Mr

    Issa moved to recommit to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR H2024)

  7. APR 21, 2021Floor

    The previous question on the motion was ordered without objection.

  8. APR 21, 2021Floor

    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.

  9. APR 21, 2021Floor

    Considered as unfinished business

    (consideration: CR H2030-2032)

    2030Yea
    2032Nay
    0NV
  10. APR 21, 2021Floor

    On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays

    Roll Call #128

    209 - 215 (Roll no. 128).

    209Yea
    215Nay
    0NV
  11. APR 21, 2021Floor

    Passed/agreed to in House

    Roll Call #129

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 207 (Roll no. 129).(text: CR H2016)

    217Yea
    207Nay
    0NV
  12. APR 21, 2021Floor

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays

    Roll Call #129

    217 - 207 (Roll no. 129). (text: CR H2016)

    217Yea
    207Nay
    0NV
  13. APR 21, 2021Floor

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  14. APR 20, 2021Floor

    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.

  15. APR 16, 2021Committee

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 117-21.

    117Yea
    21Nay
    0NV
  16. APR 16, 2021Committee

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 117-21.

    117Yea
    21Nay
    0NV
  17. APR 16, 2021Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 8.

  18. APR 14, 2021Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  19. APR 14, 2021Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 16.

    24Yea
    16Nay
    0NV
  20. MAR 03, 2021IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  21. MAR 03, 2021IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  22. MAR 03, 2021IntroReferral

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Committees

4

Judiciary Committee

ssju00

Referred: Apr 22, 2021

Active

Judiciary Committee

hsju00

Referred: Apr 17, 2021

Active

Judiciary Committee

hsju00

Referred: Apr 14, 2021

Active

Judiciary Committee

hsju00

Referred: Mar 3, 2021

Active