S 1627 IS
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1627
To enhance the security of the international borders of the United
States.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 1, 2001
Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. KYL, Ms. SNOWE, Mr. HATCH, Mr. THURMOND, Mr.
BOND, and Mr. KOHL) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To enhance the security of the international borders of the United
States.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Visa Entry Reform Act of 2001'.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE LOOKOUT DATABASE.
(1) IN GENERAL- The Director of the Office of Homeland Security, in
conjunction with the Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force, the Secretary of
State, the Attorney General, the Commissioner of Immigration and
Naturalization, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the
Director of Central Intelligence, the Secretary of Transportation and with
input from appropriate private industry, shall establish and supervise the
development of a single, comprehensive computerized database (hereafter in
this Act referred to as the `lookout database') to screen visa applicants
and applicants for admission to the United States to identify those aliens
who are inadmissible or deportable under the Immigration and Nationality
Act.
(2) INFORMATION ABOUT APPLICANTS FOR ADMISSION TO THE UNITED STATES- The
lookout database shall include the following information about any alien
attempting to enter the United States:
(B) Alien identification number.
(F) Place of residence in home country.
(G) Anticipated place of residence in the United States.
(J) Date of entry into the United States.
(K) Dates of prior entries to and exit from the United States, if
applicable.
(L) Names and addresses of alien's immediate family.
(M) Anticipated date of departure from the United States or, if
applicable, expiration date of visa.
(N) Service in foreign military or government agency charged with
security.
(O) Biometric data or information about the alien, if
available.
(P) Other information considered necessary by the Attorney General,
the Secretary of State, and the Director of Homeland Security.
(3) INFORMATION ABOUT VISA VIOLATORS- In the case of any alien who has
violated the terms of a visa--
(A) any law enforcement agency that obtains information about an alien
who has violated the terms of his or her visa shall submit such
information to the Attorney General; and
(B) the Attorney General shall promptly enter any information so
submitted into the lookout database.
(4) OTHER INFORMATION- The lookout database shall also include
information collected under sections 3, 4, 6(f), and 9.
(5) SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION- The Attorney General shall prescribe
regulations under which information required for the lookout database shall
be submitted by the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization, Federal,
State, and local law enforcement agencies throughout the United States, and
the intelligence community.
(6) AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION- Information contained in the lookout
database shall be accessible in real time, within guidelines established by
the Attorney General, to--
(A) inspectors of the Immigration and Nationality Service or the
United States Customs Service at United States ports of entry and consular
officers;
(B) Federal law enforcement officers and investigators;
(C) the intelligence community; and
(D) other agencies considered appropriate by the Attorney
General.
(7) REPORT TO CONGRESS- Not later than 3 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Homeland Security shall
submit to the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives
and the Senate a report describing the progress made in the development of
the lookout database.
(b) INS DATA UPGRADE- Effective 6 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Attorney General shall establish a plan to upgrade the
Immigration and Naturalization Service electronic data system to include
biometric data, including fingerprints and photographs, on all aliens to whom
visas are issued.
(1) LOOKOUT DATABASE INFORMATION- The Attorney General and the Secretary
of State shall jointly prescribe regulations--
(A) to limit access to the lookout database to authorized immigration
and law enforcement personnel; and
(B) to determine and control the appropriate use of the
information.
(2) PENALTIES FOR UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS AND DISCLOSURE- Section 1030(a)(1)
of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after `Atomic
Energy Act of 1954' the following: `or any restricted information that is
included in the database required by section 2 of the Visa Entry Reform Act
of 2001'.
(d) TERRORIST LOOKOUT COMMITTEES-
(A) REQUIREMENT- Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of State shall establish within each United States
Embassy a Terrorist Lookout Committee, which shall include the head of the
political section and senior representatives of all United States law
enforcement agencies, and the intelligence community, under the authority
of the chief of mission.
(B) COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP- Each Committee shall be chaired by the
respective deputy chief of mission, with the head of the consular section
as vice chair.
(2) MEETINGS- Each Terrorist Lookout Committee established under
subsection (a) shall meet at least monthly and shall maintain records of its
meetings. Upon the completion of each meeting, each Committee shall report
to the Department of State all names submitted for inclusion in the visa
lookout system.
(3) CERTIFICATION- If no names are submitted upon completion of a
meeting under paragraph (2), the deputy chief of mission shall certify to
the Secretary of State, subject to potential application the Accountability
Review Board provisions of title III of the Omnibus Diplomatic Security and
Antiterrorism Act of 1986, that none of the relevant sections of the United
States Embassy had knowledge of the identity of any individual eligible for
inclusion in the visa lookout system for possible terrorist activity.
(4) REPORT- The Secretary of State shall submit a report on a quarterly
basis to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee
on International Relations of the House of Representatives on the status of
the Terrorist Lookout Committees.
SEC. 3. IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW BIOMETRIC `SMARTVISA'.
(a) DEVELOPMENT OF SMARTVISA SYSTEM- The Attorney General and the
Secretary of State, acting jointly, shall develop a biometric `SmartVisa'
system, which shall include tamper-proof, machine-readable visas containing
biometric identifiers and biometric data, and machines to electronically scan
and read the visas at each port of entry.
(b) DESCRIPTION OF OTHER DATA TO BE CONTAINED IN THE SMARTVISA- In
addition to the biometric data described in subsection (a), the SmartVisa
shall include the height, weight, hair color, nationality, and country of
origin of the cardholder.
(c) USE OF SMARTVISA- The SmartVisa shall be issued to each alien seeking
to enter the United States. The SmartVisa shall be scanned by a
machine-readable visa scanner upon entry or departure of the alien.
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR SMARTVISA SYSTEM- There is
authorized to be appropriated such amounts as may be necessary for issuing the
SmartVisas at all United States consulates abroad and the technology necessary
for implementing the corresponding scanning systems at each land, air, and sea
ports of entry into the United States.
(e) MACHINE READABLE VISA FEES-
(1) REPEAL- Section 140(a) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act,
Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 (Public Law 103-236) is amended by striking
paragraph (3).
(2) AMOUNT- The machine readable visa fee charged by the Department of
State shall be determined by the Department of State through a
cost-of-service study.
(3) AVAILABILITY OF COLLECTED FEES- Amounts collected as fees described
in this subsection shall be credited as an offsetting collection to any
appropriation for the Department of State to recover costs of providing
consular services. Amounts so credited shall be available, until expended,
for the same purposes as the appropriation to which credited.
SEC. 4. REFORM OF THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM.
(a) MACHINE-READABLE, TAMPER-RESISTANT PASSPORTS-
(1) CONDITION FOR TREATMENT AS VISA WAIVER PARTICIPANT- Effective 1 year
after the date of enactment of this Act, a country may only be treated as a
visa waiver participant under section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality
Act if the Secretary of State and the Attorney General jointly determine
that the country issues to its citizens and nationals machine-readable,
tamper-resistant passports that are of comparable quality as passports
issued by the United States and can be read by machines at United States
ports of entry.
(2) DEADLINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION- Not later than 2 years after the date
of enactment of this Act, such passports shall contain biometric data, as
prescribed by the Secretary of State and the Attorney General.
(b) REPORTING OF STOLEN PASSPORTS- Effective 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, a country may only be treated as a visa waiver
participant under section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act if the
Secretary of State and the Attorney General jointly determine that the country
timely transmits to the Attorney General reports of thefts of passports issued
by that country.
(c) AUTHORITY TO TERMINATE VISA WAIVER COUNTRY DESIGNATIONS-
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Attorney General, in
consultation with the
Secretary of State, may terminate the designation of any country as a visa
waiver participant under section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act if
the Attorney General determines that the continued inclusion of that country in
the visa waiver program would pose a risk to the national security of the United
States.
(d) DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARD BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIERS-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Attorney General and the Secretary of State, acting
jointly, shall develop standard biometric identifiers for the purpose
described in section 4(a).
(2) IMPLEMENTATION- Effective 1 year after the date of enactment of this
Act, no passport may be issued by the Secretary of State under section 217
of the Immigration and Nationality Act that does not contain the standard
biometric identifiers described in paragraph (1).
(3) READERS AND SCANNERS AT PORTS OF ENTRY- The Attorney General shall
install biometric data readers and scanners at each port of entry of the
United States no later than 1 year from the date of enactment of this
Act.
(4) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Department of Justice and the Department of State such
sums as may be necessary to carry out this subsection.
SEC. 5. PRESCREENING OF ALIENS PRIOR TO ARRIVAL IN THE UNITED STATES.
Section 286(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1356(g))
is amended by striking `, within forty-five minutes of their presentation for
inspection,'.
SEC. 6. PASSENGER MANIFEST INFORMATION.
(a) IN GENERAL- Beginning not later than January 1, 2002, each commercial
air, land, or sea carrier arriving in the United States from a foreign state
shall be required to provide to the Attorney General manifest information
about each passenger, crew member, and other occupants as specified in
subsection (b), in advance of departure for the United States.
(b) INFORMATION- The information to be provided with respect to each
person listed on the manifest shall include--
(5) passport number and country of issuance;
(6) country of residence;
(7) United States visa number, date, and place of issuance, as
applicable;
(8) alien registration number, where applicable; and
(9) such other information as the Attorney General, in consultation with
the Secretary of State, determines is reasonable to protect safety and
national security.
(c) REVIEW- Information provided under this section shall be reviewed
against the lookout database established under section 2 of this Act.
(d) PROCEDURES FOR THE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF MANIFEST INFORMATION-
Not later than January 1, 2002, each commercial air, land, or sea carrier
subject to the requirements of this section shall develop procedures to permit
the electronic transmission of manifest information required by this
section.
(e) PREARRIVAL MESSAGES FROM OTHER VESSELS DESTINED TO UNITED STATES
PORTS- Section 4(a)(5) of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act (33 U.S.C.
1223(a)(5)) is amended by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the
following:
`(5)(A) may require the receipt of prearrival messages from any vessel
destined for a port or place subject to the jurisdiction of the United
States, not later than 96 hours before the vessel's arrival or such time as
deemed necessary under regulations promulgated by the Secretary to
thoroughly examine all information provided, which shall include with
respect to the vessel--
`(i) the route and name of each port and each place of destination in
the United States;
`(ii) the estimated date and time of arrival at each port or
place;
`(iii) the name of the vessel;
`(iv) the country of registry of the vessel;
`(v) the call sign of the vessel;
`(vi) the International Maritime Organization (IMO) international
number or, if the vessel does not have an assigned IMO international
number, the official number of the vessel;
`(vii) the name of the registered owner of the vessel;
`(viii) the name of the operator of the vessel;
`(ix) the name of the classification society of the vessel;
`(x) a general description of the cargo on board the vessel;
`(xi) in the case of certain dangerous cargo--
`(I) the name and description of the dangerous cargo;
`(II) the amount of the dangerous cargo carried;
`(III) the stowage location of the dangerous cargo; and
`(IV) the operational condition of the equipment under section
164.35 of title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations;
`(xii) the date of departure and name of the port from which the
vessel last departed;
`(xiii) the name and telephone number of a 24-hour point of contact
for each port included in the notice of arrival;
`(xiv) the location or position of the vessel at the time of the
report;
`(xv) a list of crew members onboard the vessel including with respect
to each crew member--
`(IV) the passport number or mariners document number;
and
`(V) the position or duties;
`(xvi) a list of persons other than crew members onboard the vessel
including with respect to each such person--
`(III) the nationality; and
`(IV) the passport number; and
`(xvii) any other information required by the Secretary; and
`(B) any changes to the information required by subparagraph (A), except
changes in the arrival or departure time of less than 6 hours, must be
reported as soon as practicable but not less than 24 hours before entering
the port of destination. The Secretary may deny entry of a vessel into the
territorial sea of the United States if the Secretary has not received
notification for the vessel in accordance with paragraph (5).'.
(f) ELECTRONIC VISA FILES- The consular officer issuing a visa to an alien
shall transmit to the lookout database established under section 2(a) an
electronic version of the alien's visa file prior to the departure of that
alien for the United States and within such time limits as are necessary to
ensure that the data in that visa file is available to immigration inspectors
at the United States ports of entry before the arrival of the alien at such a
port of entry.
SEC. 7. REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL DOCUMENTS.
(a) RESISTANCE TO FRAUD AND TAMPERING- The Attorney General, in
consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Health and
Human Services, and the Administrator of the Social Security Administration,
shall establish procedures to ensure that newly issued identification
documents, licenses, and permits issued by such departments and agencies are
designed to prevent fraudulent use and alteration by tampering.
(b) IMMIGRATION AND VISA DOCUMENTS- The Secretary of State and the
Attorney General shall each ensure that every visa and immigration document
issued under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government--
(1) is designed to meet the requirements under subsection (a) regarding
fraudulent use and alteration by tampering;
(2) contains biometric data; and
(3) in the case of an alien issued a visa, includes the date of
expiration of such visa.
(c) FEDERALLY REGULATED DOCUMENTS ISSUED BY STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS-
The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation,
the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Administrator of the
Social Security Administration, shall establish procedures to ensure that, in
the administration of any law that applies Federal requirements or standards
to identification documents issued by a State or a unit of local government, a
requirement is imposed to ensure that each such document is designed to meet
the requirements under subsection (a) regarding fraudulent use and alteration
by tampering.
SEC. 8. DENIAL OF FOREIGN STUDENT VISAS TO NATIONALS OF STATE SPONSORS OF
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM.
(a) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an alien who
is a national of a country that is listed on the Department of State's list of
state sponsors of international terrorism is ineligible to receive a foreign
student visa or to be admitted to the United States as a foreign student.
(1) AUTHORITY- The Secretary of State may waive the application of
subsection (a) in the case of an alien whom the Secretary certifies as not
posing a risk to the national security of the United States. The
certification process under this paragraph shall include heightened scrutiny
of the alien's background.
(2) NONDELEGATION- The Secretary may not delegate authority to grant a
waiver under paragraph (1) to any official below the level of Under
Secretary of State other than to the Assistant Secretary of State for
Consular Affairs. If delegated to the Assistant Secretary of State for
Consular Affairs, the authority may not be further delegated by the
Assistant Secretary.
SEC. 9. FOREIGN STUDENT MONITORING PROGRAM.
(a) IMPLEMENTATION AND EXPANSION-
(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than January 1, 2003, the Attorney General, in
consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Education,
shall implement the program established by section 641(a) of the Illegal
Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C.
1372(a)). Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the program shall be
applied to all foreign nationals described in subparagraphs (F), (J), and
(M) of section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1101(a)(15)) who are covered by the other subsections of this section.
(2) APPLICATION FEE- The Secretary of State shall impose on each student
applying for a foreign student visa an application fee in such amount as the
Attorney General determines necessary to provide the funding necessary to
maintain the program referred to in paragraph (1). Amounts collected under
this paragraph shall supplement and not supplant the $36,800,000 authorized
to be appropriated by Public Law 107-36.
(b) Prohibition on Providing INS Form I-20 to Foreign Students-
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no INS Form I-20 shall be provided
or issued directly to a foreign student or other individual not authorized by
the Secretary of State.
(c) Submission of INS Form I-20 to Department of State- Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, for each foreign student seeking to enroll in an
approved institution of higher education, the institution shall submit to the
Department of State a completed INS Form I-20 containing the following
information:
(1) The identity of the student.
(2) The date of entry and port of entry.
(3) The student's address in the country of origin.
(4) The names and addresses of the student's parents and siblings.
(5) Contacts of the student in the student's country of residence who
could verify information about the student, including family members, close
associates, and persons in organizations with which the student is
affiliated in such country.
(6) Previous work experience, including names and addresses of
employers.
(7) The date of alien's enrollment in an approved institution of higher
education, other approved educational institution, or designated exchange
visitor program in the United States.
(8) The date of the alien's termination of enrollment and the reason for
such termination (including graduation, disciplinary action, or other
dismissal, and failure to enroll or reenroll).
(9) The academic course of study to be pursued by the student at an
institution in the United States.
(10) The United States consulate where the student intends to apply for
a visa.
(d) NOTIFICATION OF INSTITUTIONS- Upon the issuance of a student visa for
an alien to attend an approved institution of education, the Secretary of
State shall transmit to the institution a notification of the issuance of the
visa to that alien.
(e) ENTRY OF INFORMATION IN LOOKOUT DATABASE- The information provided by
a student on the INS form I-20 shall be entered in the lookout database
established under section 2(a).
(f) INS BACKGROUND CHECKS- The Attorney General shall conduct a background
examination of each foreign student prior to the issuance of a visa by a
consular officer to ensure that the alien is not subject to a bar to reentry
as a result of any previous violation of immigration law.
(g) ELECTRONIC UPDATES- Not later than 30 days after the end of the
enrollment period at the commencement of each academic term, each educational
institution shall provide the following information to the Attorney General
regarding each foreign student enrolled in the institution:
(1) The student's full name.
(2) The address of the student in student's country of origin.
(3) The actual address of the student in the United States.
(4) Date of commencement of studies.
(5) Degree program and list of courses of study.
(6) Status of the student (including whether the student is full-time or
part-time).
(7) Date on which the academic term ends.
(h) QUARTERLY REPORTS- Each approved institution of higher education
shall, on a quarterly basis, submit to the Attorney General a report on the
status of each foreign student described in subsection (g) who is enrolled in
the institution. The quarterly report shall include the information described
in that subsection and information regarding any disciplinary action taken by
the institution as a result of any crime committed by the foreign student.
(1) NOTIFICATION BY INSTITUTION- Each approved institution of higher
education shall immediately inform the Attorney General whenever a foreign
student who has been issued a visa fails to enroll at the institution,
withdraws from the institution, or violates the terms of his visa. The
notification shall be submitted not later than 30 days after the reportable
event.
(2) NOTIFICATION OF STATE DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS- The Attorney General
shall notify the Secretary of State of any failure of a student to enroll at
the approved institution of higher education of the student, any withdrawal
of the student from the institution, or any violation of the terms of the
student's visa.
(j) PROHIBITION ON AUTOMATIC EXTENSION OF FOREIGN STUDENT VISA- In the
case of any foreign student seeking an extension of a foreign student visa,
the foreign student shall apply for the extension and submit to a new
background examination.
(k) APPROVED INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION APPROVED- The term `approved
institution of higher education' means--
(1) a college or university approved by the Attorney General, in
consultation with the Secretary of Education, under subparagraph (F) or (J)
of section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act; and
(2) a vocational or other nonacademic institution approved by the
Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, under
subparagraph (M) of such section, including a flight training school and
language training school (notwithstanding the parenthetical exclusion of
language training programs in clause (i) of such subparagraph).
SEC. 10. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO THE ADMISSION OF NONIMMIGRANT ALIENS.
(a) ADDITIONAL CONSULAR PERSONNEL-
(1) REQUIREMENT- The Secretary of State shall assign such additional
number of Foreign Service personnel to serve as consular officers as may be
necessary to achieve effective screening of visa applicants.
(2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out paragraph (1).
(1) BEFORE ISSUANCE OF VISA- Prior to the issuance of a nonimmigrant
visa to any alien, the consular officer shall obtain notification from the
Immigration and Naturalization Service that the Service has conducted a
background review of the alien and that such review reveals no grounds of
inadmissibility under section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
or removability under section 237(a) of such Act.
(2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Department of Justice such sums as may be necessary to
employ additional examinations personnel within the Immigration and
Naturalization Service to carry out paragraph (1).
(c) FINGERPRINT AND OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED- No application for a
nonimmigrant visa under section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act may be approved for an alien until the alien submits to the consular
officer the fingerprints or other designated biometric data, or the
fingerprints and other designated biometric data, required to be submitted.
SEC. 11. ADDITIONAL PORT OF ENTRY PERSONNEL PERSONNEL.
(a) INS INSPECTORS- During each of fiscal years 2002 through 2006, the
Attorney General shall increase the number of inspectors in the Immigration
and Naturalization Service by the equivalent of 200 full time employees over
the number of inspectors in the Immigration and Naturalization Service as of
the end of the preceding fiscal year.
(b) INS INVESTIGATIVE PERSONNEL- The Attorney General shall assign such
additional number of investigative personnel of the Immigration and
Nationality Service to pursue investigations of aliens in the United States in
violation of the terms of their visa as may be necessary to achieve timely and
effective completion of the investigations and action on the results of the
investigations.
(c) CUSTOMS SERVICE INSPECTORS- During each of fiscal years 2002 through
2006, the Secretary of the Treasury shall increase the number of inspectors in
the United States Customs Service by the equivalent of 200 full time employees
over the number of inspectors in the United States Customs Service as of the
end of the preceding fiscal year.
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
SEC. 12. GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE STUDY.
(a) REQUIREMENT FOR STUDY- The Comptroller General shall conduct a study
to determine the feasibility and utility of implementing a requirement that
each nonimmigrant alien in the United States submit to the Commissioner of
Immigration and Naturalization each year information on the status of the
alien.
(b) REPORT- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on the results of
the study under subsection (a). The report shall include the Comptroller
General's findings, together with any recommendations that the Comptroller
General considers appropriate.
SEC. 13. DEFINITIONS.
(1) FOREIGN STUDENT- The term `foreign student' means a nonimmigrant
alien described in subparagraph (F), (J), or (M) of section 101(a)(15) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)).
(2) INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY- The term `intelligence community' has the
meaning given that term in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947
(50 U.S.C. 401a(4)).
SEC. 14. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to
carry out this Act.
END