“Unique Identifier” revealed for Sex Offender Passports
The US Department of State issued a press release friday announcing the “unique identifier it will be using for the passports of covered sex offenders. it reads:
On February 8, 2016, Congress enacted the International Megan’s Law to Prevent Child Exploitation and Other Sexual Crimes Through Advanced Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders (IML) (Public Law 114-119).
The IML prohibits the Department of State from issuing a passport to a covered sex offender without a unique identifier, and it allows for the revocation of passports previously issued to these individuals that do not contain the identifier (22 USC 212b).
The identifier is a passport endorsement, currently printed inside the back cover of the passport book, which reads: “The bearer was convicted of a sex offense against a minor, and is a covered sex offender pursuant to 22 United States Code Section 212b(c)(l).” Since endorsements cannot be printed on passport cards, covered sex offenders cannot be issued passport cards.
Only the DHS/ICE Angel Watch Center (AWC) can certify an individual as a “covered sex offender.” Therefore, any questions by the applicant about such status must be directed to and resolved by AWC.
Applicants who have questions for AWC regarding their status or believe they have been wrongly identified as a covered sex offender as defined in Title 22 United States Code 212b(c)(1) should contact AWC at DHSintermeganslaw@ice.dhs.gov.
I know this is federal. But I see you can’t even apply for the passport card because it will be denied once they find out you are a SO. Since they have no markings on the passport card. How ridiculous is that !!! Once again my son was caught up on a sting operation just like so many are affected. And never had contact with a victim. What can we do??
He can still apply for a passport – just not a passport card.
I paid extra for the passport card.
Better be some refunding if they are going to be demanding it back.
“The bearer was convicted of a sex offense against a minor, and is a covered sex offender pursuant to 22 United States Code Section 212b(c)(l).”
Geez!, that’s almost a paragraph for such a little book. Is all that wording really necessary ? They could of just put ” U.S. code section 212b(c)(I) ” very small in some lower corner of the back and be done with . . . this is so stupid and does nothing other than humiliate the person with his family, friends and significant others when traveling. Ridiculous!…and for what ? For politicians to look good and soccer parents to “feel” safe from fantasy dangers. Lets hinder the annual family travel plans of 800,000 + Americans and their families. Great job! Keep this up and soon the entire country won’t be traveling anywhere. Lets see how major airlines and those power players in the travel and tourism industry feel about that when their profits decrease in years to come because of stupidity like this.
At least it’s not a big red S on the picture page or cover. Could be worse but it’s still a terrible and misguided law.
Not really…it renders the document just as useless. The Nazis printed a nice big “J” within the passport of the Jews in Germany.
Just because it’s not on the cover is meaningless and just as insidious and ultimately evil.
Thank you United States government. I am no longer PROUD to be an American. I am ONLY an American because my mother give birth to me here. It was not my choice.
The government can classify and label me anyway they want. I know who I am and I am NOT an American by choice.
Ok at a loss. So its only on there for as long as im on a registry? I should be off my homestate in three years although should have been 10 years ago. Went to florida now we know how that goes for life now. How does that affect me? How is that fair that a federal asset is at the hands of multiple state policy? If we go by the federal requirement i should be off by now as well.
This only goes by the Federal Requirement.
So because of florida id be done and not be registered but since im on that list for life im done for. How is that fair?
It’s not fair. How old are you? Life is not fair and the government doesn’t exist for your benefit – only their own.
Sorry but you need to shift your viewpoint.
You are no longer considered a citizen with equal rights. You have been but into the American version of the “untouchables” and you are considered a sub-American. You are allowed to exist BUT you do not have equal or even the same rights as other Americans.
They have shown you this power with the bastardization of your travel documents – They own you!
So what is a “covered” S.O.? What does that mean? Does it only apply to those with a federal sex offense, or includes those with a state offense? And let’s say, I wanna go on a cruise to the Caribbean. Can I not go on a cruise anymore???? F**K MY LIFE.
It is for state offenders too. ANY JURISDICTION.
(1) the term “covered sex offender” means an individual who—
(A) is a sex offender, as defined in section 21503(f) of title 34; and
(B) is currently required to register under the sex offender registration program of any jurisdiction;
And if the bearer was not actually convicted…..??
according to the definition, it includes, “an individual who is currently required to register under the sex offender registration program of any jurisdiction”
So if youre not required to register any longer but come to florida youre screwed….. isnt that not equal protection under the constitution? Isnt the federal govt in charge of the state dept? Since when would they make exception to a blanket right solely becauae of the state you live in?
The Alliance For Constitutional Sex Offense Laws, under the direction of Attorney Janice Bellucci, is contemplating “next steps” as they pertain to the International Megan’s Law.
They posted, ““The ACSOL board of directors will conduct a meeting on November 4 to discuss this important matter,” stated Bellucci. “The board will announce the results of its meeting no later than November 6.””
We will keep everyone apprised of what they announce and know that FAC will contribute its support to whatever action is taken.
The definition reads (with emphasis added):
34 USC 21503(f). That Section says:
In this section, the term “sex offender” means—
(1) a covered sex offender; or
(2) an individual required to register under the sex offender registration program of any jurisdiction or included in the National Sex Offender Registry, on the basis of an offense against a minor.”
fyi
when i re registered, i asked about this, they said if you are not required to register anymore, you would not fall under any iml travel restrictions.
your post says any covered sex offender,or,
previous post you say and
so if you have a conviction but are off the state registry, would iml still apply?
if they file for an injunction while it goes through the courts will that halt the passport requirement
You re-register with the County, not the federal government. These are two separate departments. Your local SPOT unit would likely not know the details of IML.
If you have questions about IML you should contact the Angel Watch program at DHSintermeganslaw@ice.dhs.gov
If we file for an injunction, nothing is halted while it goes through the courts. It would only be halted if the injunction were granted.
Please correct what you are implying The definition you are referring to is sex offender it is not the definition of “a Covered sex offender” Big difference. If you are no longer required to register then you will not receive an unique identifier on your passport and IML is moot.
Not sure you are correct…
Under the IML, “the term ‘covered sex offender’ means an individual who—(A) is a sex offender, as defined in section 16935b(f) of Title 42; and (B) is currently required to register under the sex offender registration program of any jurisdiction.” 22 U.S.C. § 212b(c)(1). 42 U.S.C. § 16935b(f) was transferred to 34 U.S.C. § 21503, which incorporates the IML’s definitions, codified at 34 U.S.C. § 21502, which further defines the term “covered sex offender” as “an individual who is a sex offender by reason of having been convicted of a sex offense against a minor.” 34 U.S.C. § 21502(3). “The term ‘sex offense against a minor’ means a specified offense against a minor, as defined in section 111 of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 16911).” Id. at 21502(10)(A).
I think you need to re read the part that says (3) Covered sex offender
Except as otherwise provided
Why would they even add the part and is required to register?
What you are implying makes no sense at all.
Debo – you need to read the codified IML: https://www.smart.gov/pdfs/resources/International%20Megan%27s%20Law-As%20Codified.pdf
Covered sex offender. Except as otherwise provided, the term “covered sex offender” means an individual who is a sex offender by reason of having been convicted of a sex offense against a minor.
(The term “convicted” has the meaning given the term in section 111 of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 16911))
Statement by the Press Secretary on H.R. 515, H.R. 4188, S. 2152
On Monday, February 08, 2016, the President signed into law:
H.R. 515, the “International Megan’s Law to Prevent Child Exploitation and Other Sexual Crimes Through Advanced Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders,” which (1) authorizes the Department of Homeland Security’s Angel Watch Center and the Department of Justice’s National Sex Offender Targeting Center to send and receive notifications to or from foreign countries regarding international travel by registered sex offenders; and (2) requires the Department of State to include unique identifiers on passports issued to registered sex offenders;
I don’t need to read anything you need to stop posting false info One there is no place for a person to comply with IML if they are not on a registry and two in multiple place it states a person needs to bye on a registry to receive an identifier and 3 Show me one person who is not a registered sex offender that has an identifier you can’t because there is none