People in immigration detention would get at least 200 free minutes a month to call family, plus unlimited free calls to lawyers and courts. Facilities could not listen in on legal calls, and detainees must be allowed to reach family within five hours of being detained or transferred.
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Restoring Access for Detainees Act is a House bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Latest action on H.R. 5941: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Who this affects: This bill mainly affects noncitizens held in immigration detention by the Department of Homeland Security, especially those who cannot afford to pay for phone calls. It also affects their families, lawyers, and the detention facilities that would need to provide the required phone access and privacy protections.
Why this matters: Many people in immigration detention struggle to reach lawyers or family because phone calls are expensive or limited. Without a lawyer, detainees are far less likely to win their immigration cases. This bill would set a national floor for free communication, which could help more people get legal help, stay connected to family, and report problems inside detention facilities. It could also increase costs and require facilities to make physical and operational changes to meet the new requirements.
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