The SHIELD Act would let the Attorney General, through the Director of the Office of Access to Justice, award competitive grants to states, local governments, nonprofits, and schools. Grants would fund recruitment, training, and development of lawyers, accredited representatives, social workers, and community navigators, and build physical and technical infrastructure to provide legal services to people in immigration removal proceedings (as defined by specific Immigration and Nationality Act sections). Grants would run for 4 years and may be renewed. Recipients must report on services, expenditures, and outcomes, and are subject to audits, certain nonprofit disclosure rules, limits on conference spending, and a requirement that federal funds supplement, not replace, other funds.
If you live in a place with few deportation defense services, this bill could fund more local staff and programs to help people facing removal proceedings. Organizations that already provide or train people to provide immigration legal services could apply for money to hire, train, improve language access, coordinate regional services, and buy needed technology and administrative support. The Attorney General will pick grantees through a competitive process and require yearly reports and audits.
The bill authorizes $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to carry out the Act. No publicly available information on costs beyond those two years or on how many grants will be awarded.
The bill states that most people in removal proceedings lack lawyers and that representation improves outcomes. It cites studies and local programs showing higher bond and relief rates for those with counsel, and says federal support is needed to grow a skilled, sustainable legal defense workforce and expand services in areas with unmet need.
No publicly available information.