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H.R. 10943House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Counsel for Kids Act of 2026

To amend the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide counsel for unaccompanied alien children in immigration proceedings, and for other purposes.

Sponsored by Hillary J. ScholtenRep. Hillary J. Scholten (D-MI)
Introduced October 29, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 3, 2026 at 6:32 AM UTC

The Counsel for Kids Act of 2026 would require the Department of Health and Human Services to make sure that unaccompanied alien children in immigration court get free, in‑person legal representation from an independent lawyer. It also adds a protection clause for these children while they are in custody and removes language that says the government doesn’t have to pay for the counsel.

Key Provisions

  • The Secretary of Health and Human Services must provide free, in‑person legal counsel to all unaccompanied alien children in immigration proceedings, using an independent third‑party lawyer.
  • The law adds a requirement that these children be protected from mistreatment, exploitation, and trafficking while in custody.
  • The Immigration and Nationality Act is amended to delete wording that says the government ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​​ ​​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​ ​​​​ ​​​​ ​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

October 29, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

October 29, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

October 29, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued October 29, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10943

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 29, 2026

Ms. Scholten introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide counsel for unaccompanied alien children in immigration proceedings, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Counsel for Kids Act of 2026.

2.

Provision of counsel for unaccompanied alien children

Section 235(c) of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1232) is amended by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:

(5)

The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall—

(A)

ensure that all unaccompanied alien children who are or have been in the custody of the Secretary or the Secretary of Homeland Security, and who are not described in subsection (a)(2)(A), are provided in-person legal counsel in all immigration proceedings by an independent third party at no cost to such children; and

(B)

protect all unaccompanied alien children who are or have been in the custody of the Secretary or the Secretary of Homeland Security from mistreatment, exploitation, and trafficking.

.

3.

Right to counsel during immigration proceedings

The Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) is amended—

(1)

in section 240(b)(4)(A), by striking , at no expense to the Government,; and

(2)

in section 292, by striking (at no expense to the Government).