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Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Apr 3, 2025
Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2025
This bill provides legal protections for a non-U.S. national (alien under federal law) who is detained or subject to immigration-related proceedings.
The Department of Justice (DOJ), or the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in a case involving an unaccompanied child, may appoint or provide counsel at the government's expense to non-U.S. nationals in removal proceedings and related appeals.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
An unaccompanied child must be represented by counsel paid for and appointed by the government at every stage of such proceedings unless the child has obtained counsel at their own expense. If HHS fails to provide counsel to an unaccompanied child, the child's deadline for filing a motion to reopen a removal proceeding shall not apply, and the filing of such a motion shall stay the child's removal from the United States.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must provide a complete copy of a non-U.S. national's immigration file to the non-U.S. national (or the non-U.S. national's counsel) within seven days of a notice to appear for an immigration proceeding, and failure to provide the file shall result in a delay in the proceeding.
DHS must provide access to counsel for all detained non-U.S. nationals.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement must develop model guidelines for representing non-U.S. national children in immigration proceedings.
HHS must annually report on the extent to which it has provided counsel for unaccompanied children under this bill.
People & committees
Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] · D–HI
Legislative record
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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