Strong Visa Integrity Secures America Act

Bill: 115-hr-2626
Sponsor: Rep. Hurd, Will [R-TX-23]
Introduced: 2017-05-24 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Border security and unlawful immigration
Congressional oversight
Criminal justice information and records
Department of State
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Higher education
Immigration status and procedures
Terrorism
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-24
text: 

Strong Visa Integrity Secures America Act

 
This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Department of State to assign, in a risk-based manner, State Department employees to at least 30 visa-issuing diplomatic and consular posts based upon the following criteria: 
 
 
the number of nationals of a country in which such posts are located who were identified in U.S. terrorist databases, 
 
such a country's counterterrorism cooperation with the United States, 
 
the adequacy of border and immigration control of such country, 
 
terrorist organization activity in such country, and 
 
the number of negative security advisory opinions regarding nationals of such country.
 
 
Such employees shall, in addition to other duties, screen admissions applications against federal criminal, national security, and terrorism databases. 
 
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall: 
 
 
establish within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement a visa security advisory opinion unit to respond to State Department requests for visa security reviews; and 
 
provide, in a risk-based manner, for remote pre-adjudicated visa security assistance at posts that are not assigned such employees.
 
 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shall: 
 
 
screen electronic passports at U.S. entry airports by reading each passport's embedded chip, and 
 
utilize facial recognition or other biometric technology to screen travelers at such airports.
 
 
Electronic passport screening shall apply to U.S. citizens, nationals of a visa waiver program country, and nationals of any other foreign country that issues electronic passports.
 
Facial recognition or other biometric technology shall apply to nationals of a visa waiver program country.
 
The CBP shall, in a risk-based manner, continuously screen individuals issued any visa and individuals who are visa waiver program nationals against criminal, national security, and terrorism databases.
 
The annual visa overstay report is revised.
 
DHS shall ensure that certain foreign student information is available at each U.S. port of entry to CBP officers who inspect aliens seeking U.S. admission.

action_date: 2017-08-08
text: 

Strong Visa Integrity Secures America Act

 
This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Department of State to assign, in a risk-based manner, State Department employees to at least 50 visa-issuing diplomatic and consular posts based upon the following criteria: 
 
 
the number of nationals of a country in which such posts are located who were identified in U.S. terrorist databases, 
 
such a country's counterterrorism cooperation with the United States, 
 
the adequacy of border and immigration control of such country, 
 
terrorist organization activity in such country, and 
 
the number of negative security advisory opinions regarding nationals of such country.
 
 
Such employees shall, in addition to other duties, screen admissions applications against federal criminal, national security, and terrorism databases. 
 
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall: 
 
 
establish within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement a visa security advisory opinion unit to respond to State Department requests for visa security reviews; and 
 
provide, in a risk-based manner, for remote pre-adjudicated visa security assistance at at least 50 posts that are not assigned such employees.
 
 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shall: 
 
 
screen electronic passports at U.S. entry airports by reading each passport's embedded chip, and 
 
utilize facial recognition or other biometric technology to screen travelers at such airports.
 
 
Electronic passport screening shall apply to U.S. citizens, nationals of a visa waiver program country, and nationals of any other foreign country that issues electronic passports.
 
Facial recognition or other biometric technology shall apply to nationals of a visa waiver program country.
 
The CBP shall, in a risk-based manner, continuously screen individuals issued any visa and individuals who are visa waiver program nationals against criminal, national security, and terrorism databases.
 
The annual visa overstay report is revised.
 
DHS shall: (1) ensure that certain foreign student information is available at each U.S. port of entry to CBP officers, (2) review the social media accounts of certain visa applicants who are citizens or residents of high-risk countries, and (3) review open source information of visa applicants.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-08
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-273, Part I.
action_date: 2017-08-08
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-273, Part I.
action_date: 2017-07-26
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2017-07-26
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2017-06-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
action_date: 2017-06-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.
action_date: 2017-05-24
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-05-24
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-05-24
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-05-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-05-24
text: Introduced in House