Sponsors (4)
Introduced March 19, 2026 by Edward John Markey · Last progress March 19, 2026
The bill expands funded legal representation and builds nonprofit and governmental capacity to serve immigrants in removal proceedings—improving access and accountability—while increasing federal spending and imposing eligibility, reporting, and administrative requirements that may strain small providers and leave some people or local entities unintentionally excluded.
Immigrants (especially low-income respondents in removal proceedings) will have substantially greater access to independent, high‑quality legal representation through grant-funded counsel and preserved appointed‑counsel rights.
Community-based organizations, nonprofits, and state/local programs will receive federal grants and technical assistance to hire and retain staff, build culturally and linguistically appropriate services, and expand legal-services capacity in underserved and rural areas.
Increased accountability and stewardship for DOJ grants through audits, OIG oversight, Attorney General certifications, disclosure rules, technical assistance for grantees with audit problems, and conference‑spending limits will reduce waste, fraud, and abuse and encourage better financial management.
Taxpayers face meaningful additional federal spending (roughly $100 million annually for FY2026–FY2027 plus program costs), which increases federal outlays and could generate future budget pressures.
Small and resource‑limited nonprofits and local providers will face increased administrative burden and compliance costs (grant applications, certifications, annual reporting, audits, 'supplement not supplant' rules), which may reduce the pool of eligible providers and strain local services.
A narrow statutory definition of 'individual facing removal' and definitions tied to existing statutory references could leave some noncitizens in related immigration processes without access to services the Act intends to provide.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Creates a DOJ grant program to expand legal workforce and infrastructure for representation in immigration removal proceedings and authorizes $100M per year for FY2026–27.
Creates a DOJ grant program to expand legal representation for people in immigration removal proceedings by funding recruitment, training, technical assistance, and infrastructure for legal services. The program awards competitive 4-year grants to governments, community organizations, and schools to build capacity, target underserved areas, and support public programs, with reporting, annual audits, and compliance rules. Authorizes $100 million for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to carry out the program; requires the Office for Access to Justice to set rules and prioritize increasing representation regardless of other enforcement priorities; and preserves existing statutory rights to appointed counsel where they apply.