# 119-s-391: Access to Counsel Act of 2025

119-s-391, Access to Counsel Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA); status introduced (as of 2026-08-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-391
- As of: 2026-08-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-391
- Congress: 119
- Title: Access to Counsel Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-02-04
- Sponsor: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 18
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-11

## Summary

**Guarantees quick access to legal advice for people pulled into secondary or deferred immigration inspections at U.S. ports of entry.** The bill would require the Department of Homeland Security to give covered travelers a meaningful chance to consult counsel and an interested party promptly and throughout the inspection process. - Families and interested parties would be able to consult with and advocate for the traveler, provide documents and evidence, and, when practicable, appear in person at the inspection site. - Travelers who are U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents returning from abroad, visa holders, refugees, returning asylees, and parolees would get a meaningful opportunity to consult counsel, including by phone, not later than 1 hour after secondary inspection begins and as needed during deferred inspection. - Lawful permanent residents could not be asked to abandon their status by signing Form I-407 until they have had a meaningful opportunity to seek counsel, unless they knowingly and voluntarily waive that opportunity in writing. - "Counsel" is limited to licensed attorneys or individuals accredited to represent people in immigration matters under existing Executive Office for Immigration Review rules.

## Cosponsors (18)

- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] (D-DE), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV] (D-NV), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL] (D-IL), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (D-IL), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO] (D-CO), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] (D-HI), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA] (D-WA), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV] (D-NV), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (D-MA), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT), 2025-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM), 2025-02-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA] (D-GA), 2026-06-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD] (D-MD), 2026-06-09T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- More access to lawyers at inspections: benefit, low. If enacted, people subject to secondary or deferred inspection at U.S. ports of entry would be given a meaningful chance to consult a lawyer and an interested party. Consultation must be available, including by phone, no later than 1 hour after secondary inspection starts and as needed through defe…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026
- 119-s-1503: Equality Act
- 119-s-852: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025
- 119-s-2150: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-391 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/391)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990)
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503)
- [119-s-852: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-852)
- [119-s-2150: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2150)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-391 (as of 2026-08-11).