# 116-hr-5581: Access to Counsel Act of 2020

116-hr-5581, Access to Counsel Act of 2020, is a 116th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (D-WA); status Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 332. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-5581
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 116-hr-5581
- Congress: 116
- Title: Access to Counsel Act of 2020
- Status: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 332.
- Introduced: 2020-01-10
- Sponsor: Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (D-WA)
- Cosponsors: 50
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Access to Counsel Act of 2020 This bill establishes various protections for aliens in certain immigration-related proceedings or inspections. When an alien is undergoing certain types of inspections or is subject to a removal, exclusion, or deportation proceeding, the alien shall be entitled to representation by counsel of the alien's choice, at no cost to the government. The current statute only states that an alien is entitled to representation in removal proceedings. If such an alien is subject to detention or inspection at a port of entry and cannot meet with counsel, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shall provide for remote communication with counsel. If such an alien has been denied access to counsel, the alien may not submit paperwork to abandon lawful permanent resident status or to withdraw an application for admission. The detention of an individual at a port of entry or a CBP or ICE facility shall (1) be limited to the briefest term and the least restrictive conditions necessary, and (2) include access to food, water, and restrooms.

## Cosponsors (50)

- Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12] (D-NY), 2020-01-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] (D-OR), 2020-01-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2020-01-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] (D-NY), 2020-01-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL-22] (D-FL), 2020-01-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2020-01-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2020-01-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6] (D-WA), 2020-01-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18] (D-CA), 2020-01-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2020-01-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] (D-IL), 2020-01-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] (D-MD), 2020-01-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40] (D-CA), 2020-01-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1] (D-IL), 2020-01-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL), 2020-01-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA), 2020-01-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10] (D-IL), 2020-01-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9] (D-WA), 2020-01-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14] (D-CA), 2020-01-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (D-NJ), 2020-01-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25] (D-FL), 2020-01-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-16] (D-CA), 2020-01-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2] (D-WA), 2020-01-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3] (D-OR), 2020-01-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4] (D-IL), 2020-01-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44] (D-CA), 2020-01-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11] (D-VA), 2020-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA-31] (D-CA), 2020-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ), 2020-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20] (D-FL), 2020-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7] (D-MA), 2020-02-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17] (D-CA), 2020-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- ELIOT ENGEL (D-NY), 2020-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2020-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Levin, Andy [D-MI-9] (D-MI), 2020-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI-8] (D-MI), 2020-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2020-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1] (D-RI), 2020-02-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] (D-WI), 2020-02-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16] (D-TX), 2020-02-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13] (D-NY), 2020-02-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA), 2020-02-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46] (D-CA), 2020-02-13T00:00:00.000Z
- JOHN LEWIS (D-GA), 2020-02-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3] (D-CT), 2020-02-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5] (D-PA), 2020-02-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29] (D-TX), 2020-02-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Murphy, Stephanie N. [D-FL-7] (D-FL), 2020-02-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47] (D-CA), 2020-02-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kennedy, Joseph P., III [D-MA-4] (D-MA), 2020-02-18T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 116-hr-7120: George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020
- 116-hr-2694: Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
- 116-hr-2382: USPS Fairness Act
- 116-hr-2214: NO BAN Act
- 116-hr-1773: Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2019
- 116-hr-4: Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019

## Sources
- [116-hr-5581 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/5581)

## Related
- [116-hr-7120: George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-7120)
- [116-hr-2694: Pregnant Workers Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-2694)
- [116-hr-2382: USPS Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-2382)
- [116-hr-2214: NO BAN Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-2214)
- [116-hr-1773: Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2019](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-1773)
- [116-hr-4: Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-4)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-5581 (as of 2025-11-18).