To provide counsel for unaccompanied children, and for other purposes.

H.R. 9259 is legislation introduced in the House that would provide counsel for unaccompanied children in immigration proceedings and related matters. It amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to let the Attorney General, or the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) for unaccompanied children, appoint or provide counsel at government expense and require early access to immigration files. It also requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to let counsel access detention facilities and directs HHS to report each year on representation and pro bono counsel efforts. These changes matter because they could affect whether children understand and can defend their immigration cases.