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Bill114th CongressFiled May 16, 2016Immigration
H.R. 5253

Strong Visa Integrity Secures America Act

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What it doesSummary reported to house amended, part i (Dec 8, 2016)

Strong Visa Integrity Secures America Act

This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Department of State to assign, in a risk-based manner, State Department 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.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall:

  • establish within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement a visa security advisory opinion unit to respond to State Department 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, within one year after enactment of this bill:

  • 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 screening shall apply to nationals of a visa waiver program country.

The 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 who conduct primary inspections of aliens seeking U.S. admission; (2) review the social media accounts of visa applicants who are citizens of, or who reside in, high-risk countries; and (3) review open source information of visa applicants.

What just happenedDec 8, 2016

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 114-850, Part I.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Hurd, Will [R-TX-23](R-TX)Sponsor
6 cosponsors6 R
Read on Congress.gov
6cosponsors2committees11actions1related bills10subjects
  1. Dec 8, 2016CommitteeH12200

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 114-850, Part I.

    Homeland Security Committee
  2. Dec 8, 2016Committee5000

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 114-850, Part I.

    Homeland Security Committee
  3. Jun 8, 2016Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Homeland Security Committee
  4. Jun 8, 2016Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Homeland Security Committee
  5. May 20, 2016Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

    Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee
  6. May 20, 2016Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.

    Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee
  7. May 16, 2016IntroReferralH11100

    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.

    Homeland Security Committee
  8. May 16, 2016IntroReferralH11100-A

    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.

  9. May 16, 2016IntroReferralH11100

    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.

    Judiciary Committee
  10. May 16, 2016IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  11. May 16, 2016IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Reported to House amended, Part IDec 8, 201618

Strong Visa Integrity Secures America Act

This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Department of State to assign, in a risk-based manner, State Department 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.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall:

  • establish within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement a visa security advisory opinion unit to respond to State Department 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, within one year after enactment of this bill:

  • 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 screening shall apply to nationals of a visa waiver program country.

The 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 who conduct primary inspections of aliens seeking U.S. admission; (2) review the social media accounts of visa applicants who are citizens of, or who reside in, high-risk countries; and (3) review open source information of visa applicants.

Introduced in HouseMay 16, 2016

Strong Visa Integrity Secures America Act

This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Department of State to assign, in a risk-based manner, State Department employees to at least 30 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.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall:

  • establish within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement a visa security advisory opinion unit to respond to State Department requests for visa security reviews; and
  • provide, in a risk-based manner, for remote pre-adjudicated visa security assistance at 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.

The 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 ensure that certain foreign student information is available at each U.S. port of entry to CBP officers who inspect aliens seeking U.S. admission.

Strong Visa Integrity Secures America Act — Informed