Student Visa Security Improvement Act

Bill: 118-hr-6987
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]
Introduced: 2024-01-12
Policy area: Immigration
Latest action: action_date: 2024-01-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6987 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 12, 2024 Mr. Bilirakis introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to strengthen student visa background checks and improve the monitoring of foreign students in the United States, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Student Visa Security Improvement Act . 2. Enhanced student visa background checks (a) In general Section 428(e) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 236(e) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (9) Student visas In administering the program under this subsection, the Secretary, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Student Visa Security Improvement Act — (A) shall prescribe regulations to require employees assigned under paragraph (1) to review the applications of all applicants recommended by Department of State personnel for visas under subparagraph (F), (J), or (M) of section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15) ), and conduct in-person interviews where appropriate, prior to final adjudication, with special emphasis on determining whether applicants are inadmissible under section 212(a)(3)(B) of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(B) ) (relating to terrorist activities); (B) shall ensure that employees assigned under paragraph (1) conduct on-site reviews of any applications and supporting documentation for visas under subparagraph (F), (J), or (M) of section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15) ) that they deem appropriate prior to final adjudication; and (C) shall update, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the memorandum of understanding between the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State regarding implementation of this section to clarify the roles and responsibilities of employees assigned under paragraph (1) specifically with regard to the duties prescribed by this paragraph. . 3. Student and exchange visitor program (a) In General Section 442 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 252 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (11); and (B) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following: (5) Student and exchange visitor program In administering the program under paragraph (4), the Secretary shall, not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the Student Visa Security Improvement Act — (A) prescribe regulations to require an institution or exchange visitor program sponsor participating in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program to ensure that each covered student or exchange visitor enrolled at the institution or attending the exchange visitor program— (i) is an active participant in the program for which the covered student or exchange visitor was issued a visa to enter the United States; (ii) is not unobserved for any period— (I) exceeding 30 days during any academic term or program in which the covered student or exchange visitor is enrolled; or (II) exceeding 60 days during any period not described in subclause (I); and (iii) is reported to the Department within 10 days of— (I) transferring to another institution or program; (II) changing academic majors; or (III) any other changes to information required to be maintained in the system described in paragraph (4); (B) notwithstanding subparagraph (A), require each covered student or exchange visitor to be observed at least once every 60 days; and (C) prescribe regulations defining what constitutes the commencement of participation of a covered student in a designated exchange visitor program (as defined in section 641(h) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 ( 8 U.S.C. 1372(h) )). (6) Enhanced access The Secretary shall provide access to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (hereinafter in this subsection referred to as the SEVIS ), or other equivalent or successor program or system, to appropriate employees of an institution or exchange visitor program sponsor participating in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program if— (A) at least two authorized users are identified at each participating institution or exchange visitor sponsor; (B) at least one additional authorized user is identified at each such institution or sponsor for every 200 covered students or exchange visitors enrolled at the institution or sponsor; and (C) each authorized user is certified by the Secretary as having completed an appropriate training course provided by the Department for the program or system. (7) Program support The Secretary shall provide appropriate technical support options to facilitate use of the program or system described in paragraph (4) by authorized users. (8) Upgrades to SEVIS or equivalent data The Secretary shall update the program or system described in paragraph (4) to incorporate new data fields that include— (A) verification that a covered student’s performance meets the minimum academic standards of the institution in which such student is enrolled; and (B) timely entry of any information required by paragraph (5) regarding covered students and exchange visitors enrolled at institutions or exchange program sponsors. (9) Savings clause Nothing in this section shall prohibit the Secretary or any institution or exchange program sponsor participating in the Student Exchange Visitor Program from requiring more frequent observations of covered students or exchange visitors. (10) Decertification The Secretary is authorized, without notice, to decertify any approved institution or exchange visitor program sponsor if such institution or exchange visitor program sponsor is engaged in egregious criminal activities or is a threat to national security. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (d) Definitions For purposes of this section: (1) The term covered student means a student who is a nonimmigrant pursuant to subparagraph (F), (J), or (M) of section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15) ). (2) The term observed means positively identified by physical or electronic means. (3) The term authorized user means an individual nominated by an institution participating in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program and confirmed by the Secretary as not appearing on any terrorist watch list. . (b) Comptroller General Review The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a review of the fees for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program of the Department of Homeland Security. The Comptroller General— (1) shall include in such review separate analyses of— (A) data from fiscal years 2017 through 2019; and (B) data from fiscal years 2020 through 2023; and (2) shall consider fees collected by the Department and all expenses associated with the review, issuance, maintenance, data collection, and enforcement functions of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. (c) Biannual report The Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit a biannual report, to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, analyzing data regarding— (1) students that fall out of compliance with the requirements of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program of the Department of Homeland Security and lose their status; and (2) the reporting, reporting compliance, and timeliness of the institutions or exchange visitor program of students that fall out of compliance with the requirements of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program of the Department of Homeland Security.