Bill · S. 1201· Senate(119-S-1201)
Strengthening Immigration Procedures Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 3/31/2025
- Last activity
- 3/31/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- Christopher Murphy
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Strengthening Immigration Procedures Act of 2025 aims to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act. It establishes a procedure and standards for evaluating claims of ineffective assistance of counsel in immigration matters. The bill allows an alien to claim that a prior counsel's performance was deficient and that this deficiency prejudiced the proceeding. This includes any stage of exclusion, deportation, or removal proceedings. The amendment applies to cases regardless of whether they are pending, commenced after enactment, or fully adjudicated.
Yes
Would immigrants be better off under this?+8
The bill directly benefits immigrants by providing a mechanism to seek relief due to ineffective legal representation.
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?+7
The bill enhances due process for immigrants by allowing them to challenge proceedings based on ineffective legal counsel.
Does this make it easier for immigrants already here to become citizens?+5
By allowing claims of ineffective assistance, the bill creates a procedural pathway that could assist individuals in maintaining their legal status or pursuing relief.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Access to a Full and Fair Process: By providing a procedure to evaluate ineffective assistance of counsel, the bill addresses current obstacles that act as barriers to access to counsel for aliens in need of representation (Section 2(a)(5)).
-
Standardized Evaluation: The bill establishes a specific standard where an alien can raise a claim if counsel's performance was deficient and prejudiced the immigration proceeding (Section 3(a)).
-
Broader Scope of Claims: The definition of an "immigration matter" covers various stages, including exclusion, deportation, or removal proceedings, motions to reopen or reconsider, and matters pending before the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General (Section 3(a)(b)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Requirement of Prejudice: To succeed in a claim, an alien must demonstrate that the errors of counsel were serious enough to deprive them of a fair immigration proceeding (Section 3(a)(b)(2)).
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 Immigrants+8
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Due Process+7
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Pathway To Citizenship+5
- 3/31/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Introduced in Senate