H.R. 912: Protecting Immigrants From Legal Exploitation Act of 2017

115th Congress · introduced 2017-02-07 · Immigration · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2017-02-07 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Protecting Immigrants From Legal Exploitation Act of 2017

Plain summary

Protecting Immigrants From Legal Exploitation Act of 2017 This bill amends the federal criminal code to subject to a fine, imprisonment, or both any individual who: (1) knowingly or recklessly executes a scheme in connection with any federal immigration law-related matter to defraud a person or to obtain money or anything else of value from a person by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises; or (2) knowingly and falsely represents that such individual is an attorney or an accredited representative in any federal immigration law-related matter. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall promulgate regulations, forms, and procedures defining the circumstances in which: (1) persons submitting immigration documents must identify who (other than immediate family members) assisted them in preparing or translating such documents; and (2) any person who received compensation (other than a normal fee for copying, mailing, or similar services) in connection with the preparation or submission of such documents must sign the documents as a preparer and provide identifying information. DOJ may bring a civil injunction against an immigration service provider who engages in fraudulent conduct that substantially interferes with the administration of the immigration laws or who willfully misrepresents such provider's legal authority to provide representation before DOJ or DHS. An alien may withdraw an immigration submission if the alien: (1) submits information indicating that thesubmission was prepared or submitted by an individual engaged in the unauthorized practice of law or immigration practitioner fraud, and (2) attests that he or she had no prior knowledge that the submission was prepared or submitted by such an individual. This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to waive the bar on reentry for an alien who left the United States based on the erroneous advice of an individual engaged in the unauthorized practice of law or immigration practitioner fraud. DOJ and DHS shall: (1) carry out, through the Director of the Office for Immigration Review, an outreach program to educate aliens regarding who may provide legal services and representation in immigration proceedings; and (2) establish, within the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Executive Office for Immigration Review, programs to award grants to eligible nonprofit organizations for direct legal services to aliens.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Protecting Immigrants From Legal Exploitation Act of 2017

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11] · 42 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Dina Titus (D-NV), Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Darren Soto (D-FL), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Grace Meng (D-NY), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), J. Luis Correa (D-CA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), André Carson (D-IN), Terri A. Sewell (D-AL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA), Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Peter Welch (D-VT), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Donald Norcross (D-NJ)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11] reported raising $2.6 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115hr912.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/hr>

Record fed-us-cong115-hr912 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115