SHIELD Act Securing Help for Immigrants through Education and Legal Development Act
Impact
The bill addresses the urgent need for legal representation in deportation proceedings, which disproportionately affects marginalized groups, including communities of color. It underscores the importance of legal assistance in improving outcomes for deportees; studies show that represented individuals are significantly more likely to receive favorable results in immigration courts. By funding local and state initiatives, the SHIELD Act intends to expand access to legal services and establish a more equitable immigration system.
Summary
House Bill 3101, also known as the SHIELD Act (Securing Help for Immigrants through Education and Legal Development Act), aims to authorize the Attorney General to provide grants to states, local governments, and organizations to bolster the infrastructure necessary for ensuring due process rights for individuals facing deportation. The bill recognizes that many individuals, often unable to afford legal representation, navigate complex immigration proceedings alone, leading to adverse outcomes that can disrupt families and communities.
Contention
Critics may voice concerns about the allocation of federal funds and potential bureaucratic challenges in implementing the program. There is also a debate regarding whether public funds should be used to support immigration defenses, especially in a climate where immigration remains a contentious issue. Supporters argue that guaranteeing legal representation aligns with fundamental justice principles and serves societal interests, while opponents worry about resource distribution and prioritization of funding.
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the annual numerical limitation on visas for certain immigrants, to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to grant work authorization to certain immigrants with a pending application for nonimmigrant status under such Act, and for other purposes.
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the plight of Cameroonian immigrants and the continued turmoil and instability in the nation of Cameroon merits a designation of humanitarian parole and calling on the Department of Homeland Security to create a humanitarian parole program for Cameroonians fleeing this violence.
Expressing the sense of Congress that wrongfully or unjustly deported people who have established significant ties through years of life in the United States deserve a chance to come home to reunite with loved ones through a fair and central process within the Department of Homeland Security.
Ending Scam Credit Repair Act or the ESCRA ActThis bill revises the Credit Repair Organizations Act and creates additional requirements for credit repair organizations (CROs).Under current law, it is illegal for a person (including a CRO) to make false or misleading statements regarding a consumer’s creditworthiness or standing to a consumer reporting agency or to a consumer credit provider. The bill additionally prohibits making such statements to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission, or law enforcement. To be subject to this prohibition, the bill also requires such statements to be made knowingly.The bill also revises CRO obligations to consumers. A CRO is prohibited from charging a consumer for a service (e.g., getting inaccurate information removed from a credit report) until the CRO provides proof of success not less than six months after providing the service. The bill also requires additional disclosures to consumers, requires the retention of any recorded telephone calls, and increases the time records must be retained from two to five years. In addition, consumers must be given copies of all communications sent on their behalf.Under the bill, all persons must be licensed by a state to act as a CRO. The bill also restricts a CRO’s ability to submit multiple credit disputes regarding the same information.The bill also sets a minimum liability amount for damages of $500 for each violation of the Credit Repair Organizations Act.