# 119-hr-3127: Fairness to Freedom Act of 2025

119-hr-3127, Fairness to Freedom Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35] (D-CA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-03).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3127
- As of: 2026-11-03
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-3127
- Congress: 119
- Title: Fairness to Freedom Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-04-30
- Sponsor: Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 29
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-11-03

## Summary

**A federal right to government-funded counsel in immigration proceedings** would guarantee lawyers for people who cannot afford them and create a permanent agency to run that system. - Families and noncitizens in removal, bond, expedited removal, or related proceedings would be eligible for a government-appointed attorney if they cannot afford one; a sworn statement at or below **200 percent of the federal poverty line** generally creates eligibility. - People taken into custody or held at ports of entry would get confidential access to counsel within **12 hours** or timely remote contact; failures can make statements inadmissible and may force continuances or even termination of proceedings with prejudice. - The bill would create an independent Office of Immigration Representation with a central Board, Local Boards, Immigration Public Defender organizations, community defender groups, and mandatory Attorney Panels; Local Boards must be established within **6 months** and Local Plans developed within **120 days**.

## Cosponsors (29)

- Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51] (D-CA), 2026-11-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] (D-NY), 2025-04-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (D-WA), 2025-04-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] (D-MI), 2025-05-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2025-06-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2025-06-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3] (D-IL), 2025-06-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10] (D-NY), 2025-09-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2025-09-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] (D-IL), 2025-09-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13] (D-MI), 2025-10-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5] (D-MN), 2026-10-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35] (D-TX), 2026-10-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large] (D-VT), 2026-10-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] (D-NY), 2026-10-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] (D-NY), 2026-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8] (D-MA), 2026-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29] (D-TX), 2026-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5] (D-PA), 2026-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13] (D-NY), 2026-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL), 2026-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] (D-CA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2026-10-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12] (D-PA), 2026-10-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6] (D-OR), 2025-11-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30] (D-TX), 2026-02-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1] (D-CO), 2026-03-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42] (D-CA), 2026-08-13T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Free immigration lawyers and faster access: benefit, high. If enacted, people in deportation or related immigration cases who cannot afford a lawyer would get one paid by the government. A sworn statement that family income is at or below 200% of the poverty line would qualify you. The right would start when you are put in DHS or HHS custody or when a Noti…
- New immigration defender office and pay rules: benefit, high. If enacted, a new independent Office of Immigration Representation would organize and fund defense services nationwide. Local Boards would file plans within 120 days and could fund local programs, while the Office would manage vouchers, budgets, and yearly reports. Appointed lawyers would be paid a…
- Stable funding floor tied to prosecutions: benefit, high. If enacted, the Office of Immigration Representation would receive at least a yearly funding floor. OMB would set the floor by multiplying the current combined enforcement and Office funding by last year’s defense‑to‑enforcement ratio. The enforcement side would include ICE, CBP, and DOJ’s Office o…
- Free lawyer won’t count as public charge: benefit, medium. If enacted, asking for or getting a government‑paid lawyer under this bill would not count against you in any public‑charge test. This would apply to visa, admission, removal, and any other immigration decisions where public charge is considered.

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025
- 119-hr-5390: FAMILY Act
- 119-hr-15: Equality Act
- 119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-3127 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3127)

## Related
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-51)
- [119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-20)
- [119-hr-5390: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5390)
- [119-hr-15: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-15)
- [119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1589)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3127 (as of 2026-11-03).