Legis Daily

Strong Visa Integrity Secures America Act

USA115th CongressHR-2626| House 
| Updated: 8/8/2017
Will Hurd

Will Hurd

Republican Representative

Texas

Cosponsors (3)
John Katko (Republican)Elise M. Stefanik (Republican)Michael T. McCaul (Republican)

Homeland Security Committee, Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee, Judiciary Committee, Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Strong Visa Integrity Secures America Act This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assign, in a risk-based manner, DHS 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. DHS shall: establish within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement a visa security advisory opinion unit to respond to Department of State 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. 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.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
May 24, 2017
Introduced in House
May 24, 2017
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.
Jun 15, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.
Jun 26, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
Jul 26, 2017
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Jul 26, 2017
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Aug 8, 2017
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-273, Part I.
  • May 24, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • May 24, 2017
    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.


  • June 15, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.


  • June 26, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.


  • July 26, 2017
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.


  • July 26, 2017
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • August 8, 2017
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-273, Part I.

Immigration

Related Bills

  • S 115-1757: A bill to strengthen border security, increase resources for enforcement of immigration laws, and for other purposes.
  • HR 115-4760: To amend the immigration laws and the homeland security laws, and for other purposes.
  • S 115-2192: A bill to strengthen border security, increase resources for enforcement of immigration laws, and for other purposes.
Aviation and airportsBorder security and unlawful immigrationCongressional oversightCriminal justice information and recordsDepartment of StateDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadHigher educationImmigration status and proceduresTerrorismVisas and passports

Strong Visa Integrity Secures America Act

USA115th CongressHR-2626| House 
| Updated: 8/8/2017
Strong Visa Integrity Secures America Act This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assign, in a risk-based manner, DHS 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. DHS shall: establish within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement a visa security advisory opinion unit to respond to Department of State 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. 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.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
May 24, 2017
Introduced in House
May 24, 2017
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.
Jun 15, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.
Jun 26, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
Jul 26, 2017
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Jul 26, 2017
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Aug 8, 2017
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-273, Part I.
  • May 24, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • May 24, 2017
    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.


  • June 15, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.


  • June 26, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.


  • July 26, 2017
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.


  • July 26, 2017
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • August 8, 2017
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-273, Part I.
Will Hurd

Will Hurd

Republican Representative

Texas

Cosponsors (3)
John Katko (Republican)Elise M. Stefanik (Republican)Michael T. McCaul (Republican)

Homeland Security Committee, Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee, Judiciary Committee, Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

Immigration

Related Bills

  • S 115-1757: A bill to strengthen border security, increase resources for enforcement of immigration laws, and for other purposes.
  • HR 115-4760: To amend the immigration laws and the homeland security laws, and for other purposes.
  • S 115-2192: A bill to strengthen border security, increase resources for enforcement of immigration laws, and for other purposes.
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Aviation and airportsBorder security and unlawful immigrationCongressional oversightCriminal justice information and recordsDepartment of StateDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadHigher educationImmigration status and proceduresTerrorismVisas and passports