U.S. Congress legislation · 119th Congress
HB10943: Counsel for Kids Act of 2026
Status: In committee, October 29, 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.
What the bill says
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.
From the introduced text, October 29, 2026:
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. SECTION 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Counsel for Kids Act of 2026 . SECTION 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. . SECTION 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 …
Sponsors
- Hillary Scholten (D, HD-003) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- : Introduced in House
Common questions
- What is HB10943?
- HB10943 is a bill in Congress (119th Congress): Counsel for Kids Act of 2026.
- What does HB10943 do?
- In its own words: 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.
- What is the status of HB10943?
- In committee as of October 29, 2026. Latest action: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. (October 29, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB10943?
- Hillary Scholten (D, HD-003).
- Where is the official record for HB10943?
- On the Congress website: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/10943
Source: official Congress record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.