Sheila Jackson Lee: “As an original cosponsor and senior member of the Committee on the Judiciary, I rise in strong and enthusiastic support…”

“As an original cosponsor and senior member of the Committee on the Judiciary, I rise in strong and enthusiastic support of H.R. 5581, the ``Access to Counsel Act of 2020,'' which 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. This important legislation amends section 235 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure that certain individuals can communicate with counsel and other interested parties if they are subjected to prolonged inspection by CBP. The protections afforded by the Access to Counsel Act of 2020 would apply to individuals who possess valid travel documents, but who are pulled out of the ``primary'' inspection line and referred to ``secondary'' inspection for extended processing. If such individuals are held in secondary inspection for at least one hour, they must be permitted to communicate with counsel and other interested parties. Counsel and interested parties would be able to provide information and documentation to the inspecting officer to facilitate the inspection process and offer support and assistance to the individual subject to inspection.…”