Washington, D.C. – Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) praised the House passage of H.R. 5581, the Access to Counsel Act of 2020. The legislation, which passed the House by a vote of 231-184, ensures that certain individuals who are subjected to prolonged inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at ports of entry have a meaningful opportunity to communicate with counsel and other interested parties.

“Due to the complexity of U.S. immigration law, it is not uncommon for some people to spend hours undergoing inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol,” said Chairman Nadler. "These individuals are often prevented from communicating with those on the outside, and if they are lucky enough to have a lawyer, CBP will often refuse to speak with them. The legislation passed by the House today will address this injustice and protect due process for all who seek to enter the United States. I am grateful to Representative Jayapal for her leadership on this issue, and I urge the Senate to take up this important legislation.”

The Access to Counsel Act of 2020 is supported by numerous organizations including America’s Voice, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Amnesty International, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, Immigration Hub, and National Iranian American Council (NIAC).