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 Date | Type | Text | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-04-22 | IntroReferral | Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate |
| 2021-04-21 | Floor | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. | House floor actions |
| 2021-04-21 | Vote | On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 207 (Roll no. 129). (text: CR H2016) | House floor actions |
| 2021-04-21 | Vote | On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 209 - 215 (Roll no. 128). | House floor actions |
| 2021-04-21 | Floor | Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2030-2032) | House floor actions |
| 2021-04-21 | Floor | 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. | House floor actions |
| 2021-04-21 | Floor | The previous question on the motion was ordered without objection. | House floor actions |
| 2021-04-21 | Floor | Mr. Issa moved to recommit to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR H2024) | House floor actions |
| 2021-04-21 | Floor | The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. | House floor actions |
| 2021-04-21 | Floor | DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 1573. | House floor actions |
| 2021-04-21 | Floor | 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. | House floor actions |
| 2021-04-21 | Floor | Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 330. (consideration: CR H2016-2025) | House floor actions |
| 2021-04-20 | Floor | 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. | House floor actions |
| 2021-04-16 | Calendars | Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 8. | House floor actions |
| 2021-04-16 | Committee | Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 117-21. | House floor actions |
| 2021-04-14 | Committee | Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 16. | House committee actions |
| 2021-04-14 | Committee | Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held. | House committee actions |
| 2021-03-03 | IntroReferral | Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. | House floor actions |
| 2021-03-03 | IntroReferral | Introduced in House | Library of Congress |