A bill to amend section 217(a)(12) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, relating to the restriction of the use of the Visa Waiver Program for aliens who travel to certain countries.

Bill: 114-s-2458
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2016-01-20
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Iraq

Middle East

Syria

Terrorism

Travel and tourism

Visas and passports
Latest action: action_date: 2016-01-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2016-01-20
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015, to include Department of State designation of a country or area as a country or area of concern among the criteria for visa waiver program ineligibility based upon an alien's nationality or presence.</p> <p>Exceptions to program ineligibility shall include include an alien who was present in a prohibited country to perform official duties as an employee of an international organization for a program country.</p> <p> Visa waiver program disqualification under the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015 shall not take effect until 180 days after enactment of such Act for an alien: (1) who, regardless of whether the alien is a national of a program country, is a national of Iraq or Syria, a national of a country designated as supporting terrorism, or a national of any other country or area of concern; or (2) who has been present in such countries or areas on or after March 1, 2011.</p> <p>The Department of Homeland Security or the State Department may waive such prohibition for a period of up to 90 days if either determines that the waiver is in U.S. national security interests.</p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2458 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 20, 2016 Mr. Cardin introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend section 217(a)(12) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, relating to the restriction of the use of the Visa Waiver Program for aliens who travel to certain countries.

1. Visa Waiver Program restriction Section 217(a)(12) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1187(a)(12) ) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A)— (A) in clause (i)(III), by striking designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security and inserting designated jointly by the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State ; and (B) in clause (ii)(III)— (i) by inserting jointly after designated ; and (ii) by inserting and the Secretary of State after Homeland Security ; (2) in subparagraph (B)— (A) in clause (i), by striking or at the end; (B) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (iii) in order to perform official duties as an employee of an international organization. ; (3) in subparagraph (C)— (A) by striking Secretary of Homeland Security and inserting President ; and (B) by striking the Secretary and inserting the President ; and (4) in subparagraph (D)— (A) in clause (i), by striking , in consultation with the Secretary of State and and inserting and the Secretary of State, in consultation with ; (B) in clause (ii), by striking the Secretary and inserting the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State ; and (C) in clause (iii), by striking the Secretary and inserting the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State . 2. Phase-in of new requirements (a) In general Except as provided in subsection (b), the amendments made by section 203 of the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015 shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of such Act. (b) Extension The Secretary of Homeland Security or the Secretary of State may waive the application of section 217(a)(12) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by section 203 of the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015 , for a period of up to 90 days, if either Secretary determines that such waiver is in the national security interests of the United States. 3. Sunset Section 217(a)(12) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1187(a)(12) ) shall be repealed on December 18, 2020.