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Bill

HR 6149

FAIR Act

119th Congress Introduced by Yvette Clarke and 16 co-sponsors

Requires congressional offices to provide constituent services to people held in immigration detention centers, enabling detained immigrants to access representative assistance with agency matters.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 6149

Legislative bill overview

HR 6149 would require that constituent services—assistance from members of Congress and their staff in navigating federal agencies—be made available to individuals held in immigration detention centers. Currently, detained immigrants often lack access to congressional representatives' offices for help with immigration cases, appeals, or agency communications. This bill aims to establish protocols ensuring detainees can contact and receive support from their elected representatives.

Why is this important

Immigration detention involves thousands of individuals who may face deportation proceedings, and many lack legal representation or knowledge of available remedies. Access to constituent services could help detainees understand their rights, file proper appeals, gather documentation, or connect with legal resources. The bill addresses a structural gap where some of the most vulnerable populations—those in government custody facing removal—have the least access to governmental assistance infrastructure.

Potential points of contention

  • Resource and cost implications: Congressional offices would need additional staff and resources to serve a new population, raising questions about funding and implementation feasibility across hundreds of detention facilities nationwide
  • Detention facility cooperation and logistics: Immigration detention centers (operated by ICE and private contractors) would need to accommodate congressional staff access, raising security, scheduling, and operational concerns
  • Definition and scope ambiguity: The bill's language on what "constituent services" means in the detention context is unclear—whether representatives serve all detainees or only constituents, and what services are actually provided remains undefined

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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