There are five year old children sitting in courtrooms by themselves who can't even read and are expected to explain themselves. This is not justice. This is punishment. And That's why I introduced the SHIELD act to help ensure that immigrants can obtain legal counsel in immigration court, no matter their ability to pay. A lawyer can be the difference between a mother suffering in detention or protecting her children at home. They can be the difference between an asylum seeker returning to danger or gaining relief. (01:14–01:26)
CLAIM
Asserts that Edward Markey introduced the SHIELD act to provide legal counsel to immigrants regardless of their financial situation.
This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.
