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# Summary of S. 5324 — Fairness to Freedom Act of 2026 This bill establishes a guaranteed right to government-funded legal counsel for individuals who cannot afford representation in immigration removal proceedings. The legislation creates a new independent Office of Immigration Representation, a private nonprofit corporation, to oversee the delivery of legal services nationwide through a network of local boards, public defender organizations, and private attorneys. The bill ensures that counsel is appointed within 24 hours of detention and remains available throughout all stages of proceedings, including appeals. It prohibits using the request for appointed counsel as a basis for determining someone is likely to become a public charge, which could otherwise affect immigration status. The legislation requires the government to provide all relevant case documents within seven days and mandates minimum compensation rates for attorneys comparable to those paid to government prosecutors. Funding levels are set to maintain a prosecution-defense ratio that ensures adequate resources for representation relative to government immigration enforcement spending.

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