HR-2626 : Still Just a Bill

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 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.

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 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.

Action Timeline

Action DateTypeTextSource
2017-08-08CommitteeReported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-273, Part I.House floor actions
2017-07-26CommitteeOrdered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.House committee actions
2017-07-26CommitteeCommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.House committee actions
2017-06-26CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.House committee actions
2017-06-15CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.House committee actions
2017-05-24IntroReferralReferred 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.House floor actions
2017-05-24IntroReferralReferred 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.House floor actions
2017-05-24IntroReferralIntroduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Sponsor :

Will Hurd [R] (TX-23)
See Cosponsors

Policy Area :

Immigration
See Subjects
  • Aviation and airports
  • Border security and unlawful immigration
  • Congressional oversight
  • Criminal justice information and records
  • Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
  • Higher education
  • Immigration status and procedures
  • Terrorism
  • Visas and passports
  • Department of State

Related Bills

See Related Bills