Rep. Torres Introduces Fairness to Freedom Act to Guarantee Lawyers for People Facing Deportation
A house committee must act next: committee consideration.
No action since April 2025
This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.
Reintroduced
Reintroduced from H.R. 2697 (118th), which died when its Congress ended.
H.R. 2697 (118th) →Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
The bill creates a new Office of Immigration Representation as a private nonprofit corporation, but its employees would receive federal benefits like retirement, health insurance, and life insurance. ICE, CBP, and USCIS employees would face new obligations — they'd have to notify people of their right to counsel, pause proceedings until a lawyer is assigned, and share case files within 7 days. This changes day-to-day operations for immigration enforcement staff.
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Advocates are calling for the passage of the Fairness to Freedom Act to establish a federal right to representation for all immigrants facing deportation, noting that over 1.3 million people currently lack counsel in immigration court.
Democratic lawmakers, including Reps. Torres and Jayapal, defend the Fairness to Freedom Act as a necessary tool to counter the Trump administration's mass deportation goals and ensure due process in immigration proceedings.
Immigrant advocates in New Jersey are urging the federal government to implement protections like the Fairness to Freedom Act to safeguard residents from forcible deportation and ensure fair hearings.
No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Fairness to Freedom Act of 2025
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