S.744 Immigration bill - Sec. 4506: VISA WAIVER PROGRAM ENHANCED SECURITY AND REFORM
- (a) Definitions- Section 217(c)(1) (8 U.S.C. 1187(c)(1)) is amended to read as follows:
- `(1) AUTHORITY TO DESIGNATE; DEFINITIONS-
- `(A) AUTHORITY TO DESIGNATE- The Secretary of
Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, may
designate any country as a program country if that country meets the
requirements under paragraph (2).
- `(B) DEFINITIONS- In this subsection:
- `(i) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES- The term `appropriate congressional committees' means--
- `(I) the Committee on Foreign Relations,
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the
Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate; and
- `(II) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the
Committee on Homeland Security, and the Committee on the Judiciary of
the House of Representatives.
- `(ii) OVERSTAY RATE-
- `(I) INITIAL DESIGNATION- The term
`overstay rate' means, with respect to a country being considered for
designation in the program, the ratio of--
- `(II) CONTINUING DESIGNATION- The term
`overstay rate' means, for each fiscal year after initial designation
under this section with respect to a country, the ratio of--
- `(III) COMPUTATION OF OVERSTAY RATE- In
determining the overstay rate for a country, the Secretary of Homeland
Security may utilize information from any available databases to ensure
the accuracy of such rate.
- `(iii) PROGRAM COUNTRY- The term `program country' means a country designated as a program country under subparagraph (A).'.
- (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments- Section 217 (8 U.S.C. 1187) is amended--
- (1) by striking `Attorney General' each place the term
appears (except in subsection (c)(11)(B)) and inserting `Secretary of
Homeland Security'; and
- (2) in subsection (c)--
- (A) in paragraph (2)(C)(iii), by striking
`Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on International Relations
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on the Judiciary and
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate' and inserting
`appropriate congressional committees';
- (B) in paragraph (5)(A)(i)(III), by striking
`Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the
Committee on Homeland Security, of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate'
and inserting `appropriate congressional committees'; and
- (C) in paragraph (7), by striking subparagraph (E).
- (c) Designation of Program Countries Based on Overstay Rates-
- (1) IN GENERAL- Section 217(c)(2)(A) (8 U.S.C. 1187(c)(2)(A)) is amended to read as follows:
- `(A) GENERAL NUMERICAL LIMITATIONS-
- `(i) LOW NONIMMIGRANT VISA REFUSAL RATE- The
percentage of nationals of that country refused nonimmigrant visas under
section 101(a)(15)(B) during the previous full fiscal year was not more
than 3 percent of the total number of nationals of that country who
were granted or refused nonimmigrant visas under such section during
such year.
- `(ii) LOW NONIMMIGRANT OVERSTAY RATE- The
overstay rate for that country was not more than 3 percent during the
previous fiscal year.'.
- (2) QUALIFICATION CRITERIA- Section 217(c)(3) (8 U.S.C. 1187(c)(3)) is amended to read as follows:
- `(3) QUALIFICATION CRITERIA- After designation as a
program country under section 217(c)(2), a country may not continue to
be designated as a program country unless the Secretary of Homeland
Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, determines,
pursuant to the requirements under paragraph (5), that the designation
will be continued.'.
- (3) INITIAL PERIOD- Section 217(c) is further amended by striking paragraph (4).
- (4) CONTINUING DESIGNATION- Section 217(c)(5)(A)(i)(II) (8 U.S.C. 1187(c)(5)(A)(i)(II)) is amended to read as follows:
`(II) shall determine, based upon the evaluation in subclause (I), whether any such designation under subsection (d) or (f), or probation under subsection (f), ought to be continued or terminated;'.
- (5) COMPUTATION OF VISA REFUSAL RATES; JUDICIAL REVIEW- Section 217(c)(6) (8 U.S.C. 1187(c)(6)) is amended to read as follows:
- `(6) COMPUTATION OF VISA REFUSAL RATES AND JUDICIAL REVIEW-
- `(A) COMPUTATION OF VISA REFUSAL RATES- For
purposes of determining the eligibility of a country to be designated as
a program country, the calculation of visa refusal rates shall not
include any visa refusals which incorporate any procedures based on, or
are otherwise based on, race, sex, or disability, unless otherwise
specifically authorized by law or regulation.
- `(B) JUDICIAL REVIEW- No court shall have
jurisdiction under this section to review any visa refusal, the
Secretary of State's computation of a visa refusal rate, the Secretary
of Homeland Security's computation of an overstay rate, or the
designation or nondesignation of a country as a program country.'.
- (6) VISA WAIVER INFORMATION- Section 217(c)(7) (8 U.S.C. 1187(c)(7)) is amended--
- (A) by striking subparagraphs (B) through (D); and
- (B) by striking `WAIVER INFORMATION- ' and all that
follows through `In refusing' and inserting `WAIVER INFORMATION- In
refusing'.
- (7) WAIVER AUTHORITY- Section 217(c)(8) (8 U.S.C. 1187(c)(8)) is amended to read as follows:
- `(8) WAIVER AUTHORITY- The Secretary of Homeland
Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, may waive the
application of paragraph (2)(A)(i) for a country if--
- `(A) the country meets all other requirements of paragraph (2);
- `(B) the Secretary of Homeland Security determines
that the totality of the country's security risk mitigation measures
provide assurance that the country's participation in the program would
not compromise the law enforcement, security interests, or enforcement
of the immigration laws of the United States;
- `(C) there has been a general downward trend in the
percentage of nationals of the country refused nonimmigrant visas under
section 101(a)(15)(B);
- `(D) the country consistently cooperated with the
Government of the United States on counterterrorism initiatives,
information sharing, preventing terrorist travel, and extradition to the
United States of individuals (including the country's own nationals)
who commit crimes that violate United States law before the date of its
designation as a program country, and the Secretary of Homeland Security
and the Secretary of State assess that such cooperation is likely to
continue; and
- `(E) the percentage of nationals of the country
refused a nonimmigrant visa under section 101(a)(15)(B) during the
previous full fiscal year was not more than 10 percent of the total
number of nationals of that country who were granted or refused such
nonimmigrant visas.'.
- (d) Termination of Designation; Probation- Section 217(f) (8 U.S.C. 1187(f)) is amended to read as follows:
- `(f) Termination of Designation; Probation-
- `(1) DEFINITIONS- In this subsection:
- `(A) PROBATIONARY PERIOD- The term `probationary
period' means the fiscal year in which a probationary country is placed
in probationary status under this subsection.
- `(B) PROGRAM COUNTRY- The term `program country' has the meaning given that term in subsection (c)(1)(B).
- `(2) DETERMINATION, NOTICE, AND INITIAL PROBATIONARY PERIOD-
- `(A) DETERMINATION OF PROBATIONARY STATUS AND
NOTICE OF NONCOMPLIANCE- As part of each program country's periodic
evaluation required by subsection (c)(5)(A), the Secretary of Homeland
Security shall determine whether a program country is in compliance with
the program requirements under subparagraphs (A)(ii) through (F) of
subsection (c)(2).
- `(B) INITIAL PROBATIONARY PERIOD- If the Secretary
of Homeland Security determines that a program country is not in
compliance with the program requirements under subparagraphs (A)(ii)
through (F) of subsection (c)(2), the Secretary of Homeland Security
shall place the program country in probationary status for the fiscal
year following the fiscal year in which the periodic evaluation is
completed.
- `(3) ACTIONS AT THE END OF THE INITIAL PROBATIONARY
PERIOD- At the end of the initial probationary period of a country under
paragraph (2)(B), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall take 1 of
the following actions:
- `(A) COMPLIANCE DURING INITIAL PROBATIONARY PERIOD-
If the Secretary determines that all instances of noncompliance with
the program requirements under subparagraphs (A)(ii) through (F) of
subsection (c)(2) that were identified in the latest periodic evaluation
have been remedied by the end of the initial probationary period, the
Secretary shall end the country's probationary period.
- `(B) NONCOMPLIANCE DURING INITIAL PROBATIONARY
PERIOD- If the Secretary determines that any instance of noncompliance
with the program requirements under subparagraphs (A)(ii) through (F) of
subsection (c)(2) that were identified in the latest periodic
evaluation has not been remedied by the end of the initial probationary
period--
- `(i) the Secretary may terminate the country's participation in the program; or
- `(ii) on an annual basis, the Secretary may
continue the country's probationary status if the Secretary, in
consultation with the Secretary of State, determines that the country's
continued participation in the program is in the national interest of
the United States.
- `(4) ACTIONS AT THE END OF ADDITIONAL PROBATIONARY
PERIODS- At the end of all probationary periods granted to a country
pursuant to paragraph (3)(B)(ii), the Secretary shall take 1 of the
following actions:
- `(A) COMPLIANCE DURING ADDITIONAL PERIOD- The
Secretary shall end the country's probationary status if the Secretary
determines during the latest periodic evaluation required by subsection
(c)(5)(A) that the country is in compliance with the program
requirements under subparagraphs (A)(ii) through (F) of subsection
(c)(2).
- `(B) NONCOMPLIANCE DURING ADDITIONAL PERIODS- The
Secretary shall terminate the country's participation in the program if
the Secretary determines during the latest periodic evaluation required
by subsection (c)(5)(A) that the program country continues to be in
noncompliance with the program requirements under subparagraphs (A)(ii)
through (F) of subsection (c)(2).
- `(5) EFFECTIVE DATE- The termination of a country's
participation in the program under paragraph (3)(B) or (4)(B) shall take
effect on the first day of the first fiscal year following the fiscal
year in which the Secretary determines that such participation shall be
terminated. Until such date, nationals of the country shall remain
eligible for a waiver under subsection (a).
- `(6) TREATMENT OF NATIONALS AFTER TERMINATION- For purposes of this subsection and subsection (d)--
- `(A) nationals of a country whose designation is
terminated under paragraph (3) or (4) shall remain eligible for a waiver
under subsection (a) until the effective date of such termination; and
- `(B) a waiver under this section that is provided
to such a national for a period described in subsection (a)(1) shall
not, by such termination, be deemed to have been rescinded or otherwise
rendered invalid, if the waiver is granted prior to such termination.
- `(7) CONSULTATIVE ROLE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE- In
this subsection, references to subparagraphs (A)(ii) through (F) of
subsection (c)(2) and subsection (c)(5)(A) carry with them the
consultative role of the Secretary of State as provided in those
provisions.'.
- (e) Review of Overstay Tracking Methodology- Not later than
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller
General of the United States shall conduct a review of the methods used
by the Secretary--
- (1) to track aliens entering and exiting the United States; and
- (2) to detect any such alien who stays longer than such alien's period of authorized admission.
- (f) Evaluation of Electronic System for Travel
Authorization- Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress--
- (1) an evaluation of the security risks of aliens who
enter the United States without an approved Electronic System for Travel
Authorization verification; and
- (2) a description of any improvements needed to
minimize the number of aliens who enter the United States without the
verification described in paragraph (1).
- (g) Sense of Congress on Priority for Review of Program
Countries- It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary, in the
process of conducting evaluations of countries participating in the visa
waiver program under section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(8 U.S.C. 1187), should prioritize the reviews of countries in which
circumstances indicate that such a review is necessary or desirable.