# 119-hr-944: Access to Counsel Act

119-hr-944, Access to Counsel Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (D-WA); status introduced (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-944
- As of: 2026-09-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-944
- Congress: 119
- Title: Access to Counsel Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-02-04
- Sponsor: Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (D-WA)
- Cosponsors: 73
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-21

## Summary

**Guarantees meaningful access to counsel during secondary and deferred inspections at U.S. ports of entry.** This bill would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to let a covered individual consult with an attorney or other interested party by phone within 1 hour of secondary inspection and as needed throughout the inspection and any deferred inspection. - Families and travelers would get a fast chance to seek legal advice during inspections, including phone access within 1 hour and continued consultation as needed. - Lawful permanent residents would be protected from having a Form I-407 abandonment accepted during inspection unless they first get a meaningful chance to seek counsel or they knowingly waive that right in writing. - Attorneys and accredited representatives could consult, provide documents, and advocate for covered individuals, and the agency must, when practicable, allow in-person appearances at inspection sites. - Relatives, petitioners, sponsors, and organizations with a bona fide connection may act as interested parties and participate in or support the inspection process.

## Cosponsors (73)

- Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3] (D-AZ), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44] (D-CA), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] (D-OR), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35] (D-TX), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6] (D-IL), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20] (D-FL), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] (D-NY), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30] (D-TX), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7] (D-IL), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1] (D-CO), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13] (D-NY), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29] (D-TX), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4] (D-IL), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17] (D-CA), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] (D-IL), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12] (D-PA), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3] (D-NM), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18] (D-CA), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large] (D-DE), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] (D-NY), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4] (D-WI), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12] (D-NY), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] (D-WI), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] (D-IL), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3] (D-IL), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5] (D-PA), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9] (D-WA), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1] (D-NM), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14] (D-CA), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] (D-MI), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2] (D-HI), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52] (D-CA), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] (D-NY), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25] (D-FL), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5] (D-GA), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] (D-MD), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7] (D-MA), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10] (D-NY), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN), 2025-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38] (D-CA), 2025-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5] (D-MN), 2025-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] (D-CA), 2025-02-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] (D-CA), 2025-02-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3] (D-OR), 2025-02-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3] (D-PA), 2025-02-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large] (D-VT), 2025-02-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16] (D-TX), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2025-02-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37] (D-CA), 2025-02-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46] (D-CA), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24] (D-CA), 2025-03-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] (D-ME), 2025-03-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1] (D-MO), 2025-03-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31] (D-CA), 2025-03-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14] (D-NY), 2025-04-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16] (D-NY), 2025-04-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] (D-CA), 2025-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13] (D-MI), 2025-07-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37] (D-TX), 2025-09-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4] (D-OR), 2025-09-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7] (D-TX), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22] (D-FL), 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45] (D-CA), 2025-11-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2] (D-NC), 2026-04-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mejia, Analilia [D-NJ-11] (D-NJ), 2026-05-15T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- More access to lawyers at ports: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would require DHS to give covered people a meaningful chance to consult a lawyer and an interested party during secondary or deferred inspection. The agency would have to offer that consultation, including by phone, within one hour after secondary inspection starts and as neede…
- Existing legal counsel rights preserved: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would say nothing in this Act may be read to limit any right to counsel or to appointed counsel that existed on the day before enactment. It would preserve rights under section 240(b)(4)(A), section 292, other law, and any final court orders in effect immediately before enactme…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1810: Safe Schools Improvement Act
- 119-hr-14: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-944 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/944)

## Related
- [119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-51)
- [119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1589)
- [119-hr-1810: Safe Schools Improvement Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1810)
- [119-hr-14: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-14)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-20)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-944 (as of 2026-09-21).