Counterterrorism Border Security Enhancement Act

Bill: 114-s-542
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Coats, Daniel [R-IN]
Introduced: 2015-02-24
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Afghanistan

Africa

Asia

Border security and unlawful immigration

Congressional oversight

Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

Department of Homeland Security

Espionage and treason

Europe

Government information and archives

Government studies and investigations

Homeland security

Iraq

Libya

Middle East

Pakistan

Syria

Terrorism

Travel and tourism

Visas and passports
Latest action: action_date: 2015-02-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-02-24
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Counterterrorism Border Security Enhancement Act</b></p> <p> Directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct an assessment (which shall focus on the visa waiver program requirements for travelers and program countries) and report to Congress regarding: (1) needed border security and entry procedures improvements in response to homeland threats from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and (2) growing participation by U.S. and European nationals as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq and in terrorist activity.</p> <p>Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act regarding the visa waiver program to: (1) expand pre-travel clearance procedures; and (2) increase information-sharing requirements, including suspension of countries not fully cooperating with such requirements.</p> <p>Directs the Department of State to submit a plan to Congress for training consular officers on visa interviewing techniques that emphasizes counterterrorism efforts. </p> <p>Directs DHS, the State Department, and the Attorney General (DOJ) to submit to Congress a plan for: (1) increasing the scrutiny of U.S. citizens who have recently traveled to Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, or Libya; and (2) enhancing DOJ and other federal agency capabilities to investigate, arrest, and prosecute U.S. citizens suspected of engaging in terrorist acts or involvement with a terrorist organization. </p> <p>Authorizes the State Department to revoke and confiscate any passport issued to a U.S. citizen who is suspected of, or who has demonstrated an intent to engage in, terrorist activities. </p> <p>Amends the federal criminal code to include adherence to terrorist organizations within the definition of "treason."</p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 542 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 24, 2015 Mr. Coats introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To enhance the homeland security of the United States, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Counterterrorism Border Security Enhancement Act . 2. Border security assessment (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall— (1) conduct a review and assessment examining how existing border security and entry procedures could be improved and strengthened as a response to— (A) threats to the homeland emanating from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (commonly known as ISIS ); and (B) growing participation by United States and European nationals as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq and in terrorist activity; and (2) submit a report to Congress containing the results of the assessment conducted pursuant to paragraph (1). (b) Focus The assessment conducted pursuant to subsection (a) shall focus on the Visa Waiver Program requirements for travelers and program countries, including— (1) the information collected from aliens applying for travel authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization and whether additional information, such as dual nationality, travel history, all travel document data, proposed travel plans, and co-traveler information, should be required; (2) cooperation by program countries with current information sharing efforts under paragraphs (2)(D), (2)(F), and (9)(D) of section 217(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1187(c) ); and (3) whether program countries shall be required to establish programs for the collection of advance passenger information to counter terrorist travel. 3. Visa Waiver Program (a) Electronic System for Travel Authorization (1) Validity of travel eligibility Section 217(h)(3)(C)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1187(h)(3)(C)(i) ) is amended to read as follows: (i) In general (I) Rulemaking Subject to subclauses (II) through (IV), the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall prescribe regulations that provide for a period, not to exceed 3 years, during which a determination of initial eligibility to travel under the program will be valid. (II) Application An alien may submit an application through the System without imminent travel plans, at which time the alien will be charged the fee established under subparagraph (B). (III) Travel plans An alien may not travel to the United States under the program unless, before such travel— (aa) the alien submits or updates an application with the alien’s proposed travel plans; and (bb) the Secretary of Homeland Security approves through the System. (IV) Revocation Notwithstanding any other provision in this section, the Secretary may revoke approval of eligibility to travel at any time and for any reason. . (2) Authority to amend information collected and eligibility questions The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is authorized to amend regulations promulgated pursuant to section 217(h)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1187(h)(3) ) to ensure that each applicant is required— (A) to provide biographical information and answer eligibility questions relevant to current security risks identified in the assessment conducted under section 2; and (B) to include information listed in subsection (b)(1) of such section. (b) Report on cooperation (1) In general Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 6 months thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State shall jointly submit a report to Congress that— (A) details each Visa Waiver Program country’s cooperation with information sharing efforts described in paragraphs (2)(F) and (9)(D) of section 217(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1187(c) ); and (B) identifies all the countries that are not fully cooperating with the efforts referred to in subparagraph (A). (2) Effect of noncooperation (A) In general Not later than 30 days after a country designated as a Visa Waiver Program country under section 217(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1187(c) ) is identified as not fully cooperating under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Homeland Security— (i) shall terminate such designation; and (ii) may no longer approve any applications submitted by nationals of such country under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization. (B) Reinstatement Not sooner than 90 days after the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, determines that a country described in subparagraph (A) is fully cooperating, the Secretary of Homeland Security may redesignate such country as a Visa Waiver Program country. (c) Security risk updates Section 217(c)(5)(A)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1187(c)(5)(A)(i) ) is amended by striking the matter preceding subclause (I) and inserting the following: (i) In general Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of the Counterterrorism Border Security Enhancement Act , and semiannually thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State— . 4. Visa application process The Secretary of State shall submit a plan to Congress for training consular officers on visa interviewing techniques that— (1) emphasizes counterterrorism efforts; and (2) includes any budgetary implications of implementing the plan. 5. United States citizens engaged in terrorist activities (a) In general Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of State, and the Attorney General shall jointly submit to Congress a plan for— (1) increasing, upon arrival at any United States port of entry, the scrutiny of private United States citizens who have recently traveled to Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, or Libya; and (2) enhancing the capabilities and authorities of the Department of Justice and other Federal agencies to investigate, arrest, charge, and prosecute United States citizens who are suspected of engaging in terrorist acts or involvement with a terrorist organization, including proposals for legislative action that would enhance such capabilities and authorities. (b) Revocation of passports The Act entitled An Act To regulate the issue and validity of passports, and for other purposes , approved July 3, 1926 (44 Stat. 887; 22 U.S.C. 211a et seq. ), is amended by adding at the end the following: 5. The Secretary of State may revoke and confiscate any passport issued to a United States citizen who— (1) is suspected of engaging in terrorist activities (as defined in section 212(a)(3)(B)(iv) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(B)(iv) )) outside of the United States; or (2) has demonstrated an intent to engage in the activities referred to in paragraph (1). . (c) Definition of treason Section 2381 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting (including terrorist organizations, as defined in section 212(a)(3)(B)(vi) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(B)(vi) )) after enemies .