SHIELD Act

S. 4142, the Securing Help for Immigrants Through Education and Legal Development (SHIELD) Act, would create a federal grant program to strengthen access to legal assistance in immigration proceedings. The bill would award grants to states, local governments, nonprofits, and educational institutions to expand and support the recruitment, training, and retention of legal defenders for immigrants facing removal or deportation.

Currently, immigrants do not have a constitutional right to government-appointed counsel in immigration proceedings, and an estimated 80 percent of individuals in immigration detention lack legal representation. Research cited in the bill indicates that immigrants with legal representation are significantly more likely to be released from detention and to obtain relief from deportation. The bill aims to address this gap by funding workforce development and capacity building to increase the availability of immigration legal services.

The bill is currently under consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee and has not yet been voted on by the full Senate. If enacted, it would authorize federal funding to help ensure more immigrants have access to lawyers and legal assistance when facing removal from the United States.