Bill · H.R. 9259· House(119-HR-9259)
Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 6/11/2026
- Last activity
- 6/11/2026 — Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Sponsored by
- Zoe Lofgren
- Cosponsors
- - 29 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2026, aims to provide government-funded legal counsel for unaccompanied children in immigration proceedings. It requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to appoint or provide lawyers for these children as expeditiously as possible. The legislation also grants children and their lawyers access to their immigration files and mandates at least 10 days to review them before removal proceedings can proceed. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that lawyers have access to clients inside all detention, holding, and border facilities. Finally, the measure establishes annual reporting requirements regarding how many children receive legal representation and authorizes necessary appropriations to the Office of Refugee Resettlement.
Yes· 3 of 9
Would children be better off under this?+10
Specifically guarantees government-funded legal counsel for unaccompanied children.
Would immigrants be better off under this?+9
Provides critical legal protections and representation for noncitizens, especially children.
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?+8
Ensures legal representation and document review periods for children in immigration courts.
The opposite
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-5
The bill mandates government-funded legal representation for unaccompanied children.
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?-3
The bill authorizes necessary appropriations for counsel, which increases government spending.
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?-3
Authorizing 'such sums as may be necessary' suggests an open-ended spending commitment.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 4, amending section 292 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, requires the government to appoint or provide legal counsel at government expense for unaccompanied children in removal proceedings. This is positive because it helps ensure that vulnerable children have professional guidance through complex legal systems.
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Section 4, amending section 240(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, guarantees that a noncitizen or their counsel receives a complete copy of their immigration file within 7 days of receiving a notice to appear. Furthermore, removal proceedings cannot move forward until the individual or their counsel has received these documents and has been given at least 10 days to review them. This is a positive safeguard ensuring people are not rushed through legal processes without seeing their files.
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Section 5 ensures that the Secretary of Homeland Security must provide access to counsel for all detained noncitizens in ICE, CBP, or private contractor facilities. This provision helps protect people's ability to consult with their legal representation while in custody.
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Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 8 authorizes appropriations of whatever sums are necessary to the Office of Refugee Resettlement to carry out the Act, which relies on taxpayer funds. For taxpayers, this creates an added financial burden to pay for government-provided lawyers in immigration proceedings.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Children+10Good For Immigrants+9Good For Low Income Households+6Good For Hispanic Americans+5Good For Young Adults+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Due Process+8Improves Government Transparency+5Increases Federal Power+2
- Economy And Finance
- Reduces Government Spending-5Improves Fiscal Responsibility-3Reduces National Debt-3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Pathway To Citizenship+4
- 10/6/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/24/2026
- 6 Cosponsors added.
- 8/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/30/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/25/2026
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 6/23/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 6/11/2026
- Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 15 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
3 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Yassamin AnsariDemocrat · Arizona
Nanette BarragánDemocrat · California
Salud CarbajalDemocrat · California
Jasmine CrockettDemocrat · Texas
Danny DavisDemocrat · Illinois
Diana DeGetteDemocrat · Colorado
Mark DeSaulnierDemocrat · California
Madeleine DeanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Maxine DexterDemocrat · Oregon
Bill FosterDemocrat · Illinois
Jimmy GomezDemocrat · California
Sylvia GarciaDemocrat · Texas
Daniel GoldmanDemocrat · New York
Val HoyleDemocrat · Oregon
Henry JohnsonDemocrat · Georgia
Sara JacobsDemocrat · California
Jonathan JacksonDemocrat · Illinois
Raja KrishnamoorthiDemocrat · Illinois
Ted LieuDemocrat · California
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Mark PocanDemocrat · Wisconsin
Mike QuigleyDemocrat · Illinois
Delia RamirezDemocrat · Illinois
Emily RandallDemocrat · Washington
Adam SmithDemocrat · Washington
Lateefah SimonDemocrat · California
Nikema WilliamsDemocrat · Georgia
Debbie Wasserman SchultzDemocrat · Florida
Frederica WilsonDemocrat · Florida