no travel for traffickers act

Sign up for official updates!

Owens, cohen introduce the no travel for traffickers act.

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Today, Reps. Burgess Owens (UT-04) and Steve Cohen (TN-09) introduced the No Travel for Traffickers Act, bipartisan legislation to revoke a country’s eligibility for the U.S. Visa Waiver Program if they participate in citizenship-by-investment, the practice of selling passports in exchange for economic investment. Also known as “golden passports,” these schemes require little vetting and are notoriously abused by human traffickers, international criminals, and corrupt oligarchs. Russia is one of the world’s  worst offenders  when it comes to using these golden passport schemes as a back door into other countries.

“Human trafficking kingpins and other international criminal enterprises rely heavily on their passport purchasing power to freely travel the world, establish a foothold in multiple countries, open bank accounts, and evade accountability,” said Rep. Owens. “The No Travel for Traffickers Act addresses the severe security risks of golden passports, signaling a critical step in our efforts to isolate bad actors around the globe.” 

“Giving traffickers the ability to purchase passports or extending citizenship rights allows them to travel the world and escape accountability for their crimes,” said Rep. Cohen. “Many countries sell citizenship to traffickers through phony ‘investments’ such as real estate, and this must be stopped. I am proud to join Congressman Owens in introducing the No Travel for Traffickers Act, which will help restrict this misuse of the legal process.”

“Congressmen Owens and Cohen are leading to protect our security by introducing bipartisan legislation to clamp down on the dangerous practice by some countries who sell their citizenship and passports. These so-called “golden passport” schemes are abused by criminals and traffickers from around the world, and this practice needs to come to an end.” – Marshall Billingslea, former Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing at the U.S. Department of the Treasury

Specifically, the No Travel for Traffickers Act would: 

• Ban participation of countries that sell passports from participation in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.
• Mandate that the Executive Branch list publicly all countries with citizenship-by-investment or “Golden Passport” programs.
• Direct the Executive Branch to cooperate with the United Kingdom and the European Union to eliminate Schengen area visa-free travel for countries that sell passports.
• Prohibit the use of U.S. taxpayer funds to vet “golden passport” applicants so taxpayer dollars cannot be used to enable these corrupt programs. 

Recent Posts

Watch: the slow march of marxism is taking over u.s. colleges, watch: owens calls out columbia university for rampant antisemitism, watch: columbia university must remove the pro-hamas mob from campus.

Owens, Cohen introduce the No Travel for Traffickers Act

Today, Reps. Burgess Owens (UT-04) and Steve Cohen (TN-09) introduced the No Travel for Traffickers Act, bipartisan legislation to revoke a country’s eligibility for the U.S. Visa Waiver Program if they participate in citizenship-by-investment, the practice of selling passports in exchange for economic investment. Also known as “golden passports,” these schemes require little vetting and are notoriously abused by human traffickers, international criminals, and corrupt oligarchs. Russia is one of the world’s  worst offenders  when it comes to using these golden passport schemes as a back door into other countries.

“Human trafficking kingpins and other international criminal enterprises rely heavily on their passport purchasing power to freely travel the world, establish a foothold in multiple countries, open bank accounts, and evade accountability,” said Rep. Owens. “The No Travel for Traffickers Act addresses the severe security risks of golden passports, signaling a critical step in our efforts to isolate bad actors around the globe.” 

“Giving traffickers the ability to purchase passports or extending citizenship rights allows them to travel the world and escape accountability for their crimes,” said Rep. Cohen. “Many countries sell citizenship to traffickers through phony ‘investments’ such as real estate, and this must be stopped. I am proud to join Congressman Owens in introducing the No Travel for Traffickers Act, which will help restrict this misuse of the legal process.”

“Congressmen Owens and Cohen are leading to protect our security by introducing bipartisan legislation to clamp down on the dangerous practice by some countries who sell their citizenship and passports. These so-called “golden passport” schemes are abused by criminals and traffickers from around the world, and this practice needs to come to an end.” – Marshall Billingslea, former Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing at the U.S. Department of the Treasury

Specifically, the No Travel for Traffickers Act would: 

• Ban participation of countries that sell passports from participation in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.
• Mandate that the Executive Branch list publicly all countries with citizenship-by-investment or “Golden Passport” programs.
• Direct the Executive Branch to cooperate with the United Kingdom and the European Union to eliminate Schengen area visa-free travel for countries that sell passports.
• Prohibit the use of U.S. taxpayer funds to vet “golden passport” applicants so taxpayer dollars cannot be used to enable these corrupt programs. 

Subscribe Now

About | Contact

Legislative Bulletin — Friday, March 11, 2022

By Arturo Castellanos-Canales | March 11, 2022

BILLS INTRODUCED AND CONSIDERED LEGISLATIVE FLOOR CALENDAR UPCOMING HEARINGS AND MARKUPS THEMES IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEK GOVERNMENT REPORTS SPOTLIGHT ON NATIONAL IMMIGRATION FORUM RESOURCES

BILLS INTRODUCED AND CONSIDERED

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022

The omnibus bill appropriates $1.5 trillion in federal spending for fiscal year 2022. Among other provisions, the bill appropriates $14.8 billion for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), $8.26 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and $409.5 million for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Sponsored by Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) ( 7 cosponsors— 3 Democrats, 4 Republicans)

04/13/2021 Introduced in the House by Representative Jeffries

04/13/2021 Referred to the House Committees on Foreign Affairs

03/09/2022 Passed the House of Representatives by a 248-180 vote

03/10/2022 Passed the Senate by a 68-31 vote

Northern Border Reopening Act

The bill would prohibit the suspension or limitation on entry to the United States to a national of Canada based on any travel restriction related to COVID-19.

Sponsored by Representative Chris Jacobs (R-New York) ( 10 cosponsors— 10 Republicans, 0 Democrats)

02/25/2022 Introduced in the House by Representative Jacobs

02/25/2022 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary

To provide for the imposition of sanctions on members of parliament of the Russian Federation who voted on February 15, 2022, in favor of the appeal to President Vladimir Putin to recognize the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in southeastern Ukraine as one or more independent states.

The bill, among various provisions, would revoke and prohibit the issuance of any type of visas to members of parliament of the Russian Federation who voted on February 15, 2022, in favor of recognizing the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in southeastern Ukraine as one or more independent states.

Sponsored by Representative William Keating (D-Massachusetts) ( 28 cosponsors— 9 Republicans, 19 Democrats)

02/25/2022 Introduced in the House by Representative Keating

02/25/2022 Referred to the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and the Judiciary

Russian Travel Sanctions for a Democratic Ukraine Act

The bill would revoke and prohibit the issuance of any type of visas to Russian oligarchs, employees of Russia’s government, and employees of companies that are owned by or receive funding from Russia’s government.

Sponsored by Representative Dean Phillips (D-Minnesota) ( 49 cosponsors— 12 Republicans, 37 Democrats)

02/25/2022 Introduced in the House by Representative Phillips

Cuban Family Reunification Parole Act of 2022

The bill would require the Department of Homeland Security to reinstate the processing of parole applications under the Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program at the United States Embassy in Havana, Cuba.

Sponsored by Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Florida) ( 7 cosponsors— 7 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

03/02/2022 Introduced in the House by Representative Wasserman Schultz

03/02/2022 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary

No Travel for Traffickers Act of 2022

The bill would prohibit the participation in the Visa Waiver Program of certain countries that have in effect programs permitting individuals who are not nationals of that country to be provided with citizenship, on condition that the individual makes an investment in that country.

Sponsored by Representative Burgess Owens (R-Utah) ( 3 cosponsors— 2 Democrats, 1 Republican)

03/03/2022 Introduced in the House by Representative Owens

03/03/2022 Referred to the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and the Judiciary

Asset Seizure for Ukraine Reconstruction Act

The bill would allow the President of the United States to confiscate any property or accounts subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and valued over $5,000,000 of any foreign person whose wealth, according to credible information, is derived in part through corruption linked to or political support for the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The confiscated money would be used to support Ukrainian refugees and refugee resettlement in neighboring countries and in the United States.

Sponsored by Representative Tom Malinowsky (D-New Jersey) ( 9 cosponsors— 4 Democrats, 5 Republicans)

03/03/2022 Introduced in the House by Representative Malinowsky

03/03/2022 Referred to the House Committees on Foreign Affairs

To provide that the 3-month State residency requirement for applicants for naturalized citizenship do not apply with respect to spouses of members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty at a location in the United States

Sponsored by Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Washington) ( 1 cosponsor— 1 Democrat, 0 Republicans)

03/09/2022 Introduced in the House by Representative Herrera Beutler

03/09/2022 Referred to the House Committees on the Judiciary

Special Russian Sanctions Authority Act of 2022

The bill, among various provisions, would revoke and prohibit the issuance of any type of visas to members of the United Russia Party in the State Duma, government officials of the Russian Federation at the level of director or higher, and officers of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation with the rank of colonel or higher.

Sponsored by Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) ( 0 cosponsors)

03/02/2022 Introduced in the Senate by Senator Cassidy

03/02/2022 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders

Ukraine Emergency Appropriations Act of 2022

The bill, among various provisions, would appropriate $500,000,000 to the Secretary of State for fiscal year 2022 to assist refugees from Ukraine.

Sponsored by Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) ( 0 cosponsors)

03/02/2022 Introduced in the Senate by Senator Rubio

Deterring Communist Chinese Aggression against Taiwan through Financial Sanctions Act of 2022

The bill, among various provisions, would revoke and prohibit the issuance of any type of visas to persons engaged in any attempt by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to subject Taiwan to the control of the People’s Republic of China.

Sponsored by Senator Rick Scott (R-Florida) ( 2 cosponsors— 2 Republicans, 0 Democrats)

03/02/2022 Introduced in the Senate by Senator Scott

03/02/2022 Referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Preventing Usurpation of Power and Privileges by Extralegal Territories’ Sedition (PUPPETS) Act of 2022

The bill, among various provisions, would designate as foreign terrorist organizations the entities claiming to be the Government of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Luhansk People’s Republic, or any other region of Ukraine, that was not elected through the presidential or parliamentary elections in 2019 or local elections in 2020. Hence, it would revoke and prohibit the issuance of any type of visas to any person engaged in these organizations. This is a companion bill of H.R. 6897 .

Sponsored by Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) ( 1 cosponsor— 1 Republican, 0 Democrats)

03/02/2022 Referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

Women and Climate Change Act of 2022

The bill, among various provisions, would establish in the Department of State a Federal Interagency Working Group on Women and Climate Change. The working group would develop policies to protect, among various groups, environmental refugees understood as people displaced due to environmental causes, notably land loss and degradation, and natural disasters, who have left their community or country of origin.

Sponsored by Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) ( 6 cosponsors— 6 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

03/08/2022 Introduced in the Senate by Senator Hirono

03/08/2022 Referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

LEGISLATIVE FLOOR CALENDAR

The U.S. Senate will be in session the week of Monday, March 14, 2022.

The U.S. House of Representatives will be in session from Tuesday, March 15, through Friday, March 18, 2022.

UPCOMING HEARINGS AND MARKUPS

Hearing: Removing Barriers to Legal Migration to Strengthen our Communities and Economy

Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at 2:00 pm E.T. (Senate Committee on the Judiciary)

Location: Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226

Witnesses: TBD

THEMES IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEK

Congress Passes 1.5 Trillion Dollar Spending Bill

On March 10, the U.S. Congress passed a $1.5 trillion omnibus federal spending bill for fiscal year 2022 that will fund the federal government through September 30. Among the multiple provisions of the bill, it appropriates billions of dollars for immigration-related agencies, including $14.8 billion for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), $8.26 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and $409.5 million for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The bill — which received bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress — is expected to be signed into law by President Biden on March 11.

The budget contains several provisions concerning the U.S.-Mexico border, including $30 million for improvements in migrant processing, $256 million for new border security technology, $30 million for body-worn cameras for Border Patrol officers, $1 billion for CBP processing facilities, and $442.7 million for alternatives to detention. The bill also includes $275 million in funding for USCIS to address visa and naturalization backlogs and delays. migrant medical care, transportation

Additionally, the bill allocates 6.8 billion in humanitarian assistance to rebuild the Refugee Admissions program. It also appropriates $13.6. billion in humanitarian relief and military support specifically for Ukraine, including funding for Ukrainian refugees. The bill also renewed the Lautenberg amendment , which provides an opportunity for persecuted religious minority groups from the former Soviet Union, including Ukraine, to reunite with their family members in the U.S.

Biden Administration Pledges Assistance to Ukraine, but Concerns Over Refugee and Visa Backlog Remain

On March 8, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that over 2 million refugees have now fled Ukraine as a result of the Russian invasion. The vast majority of these refugees have been welcomed by five neighboring countries: Poland, Slovenia, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, and Hungary. On March 10, Vice President Kamala Harris announced that the U.S. would provide $53 million to support affected Ukrainians. The announcement came after the DHS announced on March 3 that the United States would be offering Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Ukrainian nationals temporarily present in the US which would permit them to remain in the US for 18 months and apply for work authorization.

Despite the announcement of TPS, the extent of the U.S. commitment to welcome Ukrainian refugees remains unclear. Backlogged refugee and immigration visa processing for Ukrainians has been further delayed by the closure of U.S. embassies and processing centers in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, which has added additional pressure to other consular posts in the region that are already managing a backlog of almost half a million cases.

In addition, on March 9, a Ukrainian woman with three of her children was reportedly turned away by border officials while attempting to join her family in California. The woman, who was sent back under an asylum restriction called Title 42, was later allowed into the country to pursue her asylum claim through an exemption for particularly vulnerable individuals.

February Resettlement Levels Remain Low Despite February Increase

On March 7, the State Department released refugee resettlement data for the month of February. The U.S. resettled 2,133 refugees in the fifth month of fiscal year (FY) 2022, almost a twofold increase from the 1,094 refugees resettled in January. Despite the progress, the current resettlement pace would lead to a total of only 15,586 refugees resettled in all of FY 2022. That number continues to lag far behind the refugee ceiling of 125,000 announced by President Biden in September.

The overall increase in resettlement came from all over the world, with refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (476), Syria (324), and the Northern Triangle (206), making up a notable proportion of the total resettled. The released data also reveals that the U.S. is resettling an increasing number of refugees from Ukraine, rising from 87 in January to 427 refugees in February.

The February resettlement data also reveals that just 205 Special Immigrant Visas were granted to Afghans in February, a marginal increase from 138 in January but still far below summer peaks prior to the Kabul evacuation when the administration granted over 3,000 SIVs a month.

Biden Administration Considers Ending Expulsions at the Border under Title 42

On March 9, a Reuters report revealed that the Biden administration is considering whether to end the use of Title 42, a pandemic-era public health order that both the Trump and Biden administrations have used to rapidly expel arriving migrants without providing them the opportunity to seek asylum.

The Reuters report came five days after two court rulings respectively ordered — on the same day — to limit and expand the use of Title 42. In the first order, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the use of Title 42 expulsions at the border for migrant families without first offering individuals the opportunity to request legal protection. In the second, the Northern District Court of Texas ordered the Biden administration to resume the expulsions of unaccompanied children, who are currently exempted from the protocol. Neither ruling has yet gone into effect.

On March 4, Democratic Senators Menendez, Booker, Schumer, and Padilla urged President Biden to “restore access to asylum and end the usage of Title 42 once and for all.” They also called on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to review their current order — on which Title 42 is founded — given the progress the nation has made in its pandemic recovery. The CDC has said that it reviews the order every 60 days to determine whether it remains necessary to protect public health. The next renewal is slated for early April.

Recent estimates suggest that over one million migrants have been deported under Title 42 during the Biden administration. Advocacy groups and international organizations have widely criticized the policy. They argue that deportations under Title 42 are inconsistent with international norms and fail to uphold the fundamental human rights of migrants. Moreover, public health experts, including the President’s Chief Medical Advisor, Dr. Anthony Fauci, have stated that policies like Title 42 are “not the solution to an outbreak.”

Biden Administration Announces Policies to Protect Immigrant Children Who Have Been Abused, Neglected, or Abandoned

On March 7, U.S. Citizenship, Immigration, and Customs Services (USCIS) announced new policies to protect Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJs). SIJ is a classification available to immigrant children subject to state juvenile court proceedings related to abuse, neglect, or abandonment.

The new policies would consider granting — on a case-by-case basis — deferred action and employment authorization for SIJ youth. Additionally, the new policies include updating an age-out provision to protect SIJ petitioners who turn 21 while their petition is pending. Furthermore, USCIS updated its regulations for evidentiary requirements for eligible victims of parental abuse, neglect, or abandonment to receive SIJ classification and a pathway to apply for lawful permanent residence (LPR) status.

In announcing the new policies, USCIS Director Ur Jaddou stated that “these policies will provide humanitarian protection to vulnerable young people for whom a juvenile court has determined that it is in their best interest to remain in the United States.”

2020 U.S. Census Undercounted Hispanic, Black, and Native American Residents

On March 10, the U.S. Census Bureau released results from an analysis about the quality of the 2020 Census count. The result shows that the latest Census undercounted the Black and African-American population by 3.3%, the Hispanic population by 4.99%, and the Native American population by 5.64%. On the other hand, it overcounted the White population by 1.64% and the Asian population by 2.62%.

While the U.S. Census Bureau has historically undercounted Hispanic, Black, and Native American residents, the 2020 results showed a more significant undercount compared to previous Censuses. While the undercount is partially explained by the fact that these groups tend to be harder to reach through surveys, phone calls, and door-to-door canvassing, immigration advocacy groups have noted that the Trump Administration’s ( ultimately unsuccessful ) proposal to add a citizenship question to the Census may have discouraged responses from undocumented immigrants.

Biden Administration has Reunited 2,762 Children Separated Under Trump Presidency; At Least 1,000 Remain Separated

On March 2, the Biden administration reported in a court filing that the Family Reunification Task Force has so far reunited 2,762 children with their parents after being separated from them under former President Trump’s “zero-tolerance” border policy.

The zero-tolerance policy — which was met with widespread criticism from members of Congress, faith groups, and the general public — resulted in the deliberate separation of more than 3,900 migrant children from their parents in 2018. In response, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a class-action lawsuit against the government, “seeking damages on behalf of thousands of traumatized children and parents who were forcibly torn from each other.”

State & Local

Florida Legislature Approves Anti-Sanctuary-City Bill

On March 9, Florida’s House of Representatives voted 77 t0 42 to advance a bill, SB 1808 , which would ban so-called “sanctuary cities” in the state. The bill , which has yet to be signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis, would require counties to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enforce immigration laws. The bill would also ban state and local governments from contracting transportation companies that bring undocumented immigrants into the state.

Sanctuary jurisdictions are those which limit state and local officials’ involvement in federal immigration enforcement functions. Some immigration advocates and law enforcement officials have argued that requiring local law enforcement to conduct federal immigration enforcement functions can undermine public trust in local law enforcement and make communities less safe.

GOVERNMENT REPORTS

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Count of Active DACA Recipients , March 9, 2022

This report provides information on the number of people with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) by the month and year that their current DACA status expires. The report also contains the number of active DACA recipients by country of birth, state and city of residence, current age, gender, and marital status.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Quarterly Report (Fiscal Year 2022, Q1) , March 9, 2022

This report contains information on the requests by intake and case status of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), All USCIS Application and Petition Form Types (Fiscal Year 2022, 1st Quarter, October 1 – December 31, 2021) , March 9, 2022

This report contains performance data on all application and petition form types submitted to USCIS for adjudication. It displays the number of applications and petitions received, approved, denied, and pending by fiscal year and updated by quarter.

Department of Homeland Security’s Domestic Violent Extremism Internal Review Working Group, Report to the Secretary of Homeland Security: Domestic Violent Extremism Internal Review: Observations, Findings, and Recommendations , March 11, 2022

This report by DHS’s Domestic Violent Extremism Internal Review Working Group highlights strategies to prevent, detect, and respond to potential threats related to domestic violent extremism within the Department.

SPOTLIGHT ON NATIONAL IMMIGRATION FORUM RESOURCES

Explainer: Florida Immigration Enforcement Legislation (SB 1808/HB 1355)

This resource explains two Florida legislature’s bills that would mandate 287(g) agreements, expand the sanctuary jurisdiction ban, and restrict the transportation of undocumented immigrants in the state.

Why Businesses Should Support Immigration Reform

This paper argues that reforming the U.S. immigration system is an economic imperative. Businesses benefit from needed immigration reforms to provide permanent solutions for Dreamers, the agricultural workforce, and other essential workers. These reforms can help address ongoing labor shortages, fill job openings in key sectors dependent on immigrant labor, strengthen the U.S. economy, and address long-term demographic shortfalls.

America’s Labor Shortage: How Low Immigration Levels Accentuated the Problem and How Immigration Can Fix It

This policy paper focuses on the importance of attracting and retaining immigrants to the United States to tackle America’s labor shortage.

*This Bulletin is not intended to be comprehensive. Please contact Arturo Castellanos-Canales, National Immigration Forum Policy and Advocacy Associate, with comments and suggestions of additional items to be included. Arturo can be reached at [email protected] . Thank you.

Advocacy Resources Landing Page

Legislative Bulletin

Legislative Bulletin — Friday, March 4, 2022

Legislative Bulletin — Friday, February 25, 2022

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

MENU Human Trafficking

• What is Human Trafficking?

Key Legislation

• Department of Justice Components
• Special Programs and Initiatives
• A Whole-of-Government Approach
• Report Human Trafficking

Modern prohibitions of human trafficking in the United States have their roots in the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which barred slavery and involuntary servitude in 1865.  Prior to 2000, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed human trafficking cases under several federal statutes related to involuntary servitude and slavery, but the criminal laws were narrow and patchwork.  In the last two decades, Congress has passed a number of comprehensive bills designed to bring the full power and attention of the federal government to the fight against human trafficking.  Below are brief summaries of some of the most significant legislation in this area.

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA), Pub. L. No. 106- 386, in 2000, equipped the U.S. Government with new tools and resources to mount a comprehensive and coordinated campaign to eliminate modern forms of slavery domestically and internationally.

Critically, the TVPA established the framework for the “3 P’s” of the fight against human trafficking: protection, prevention, and prosecution. 

The TVPA provided increased protections for trafficking victims in the United States in several key ways:

• By making foreign victims eligible for federally funded or administered health and other benefits and services and by requiring federal agencies to expand the provision of such benefits and services to victims, regardless of their immigration status;
• By creating immigration protections for foreign national victims of human trafficking, including protection from removal for victims of trafficking (the T visa) and victims of certain crimes (the U visa); and
• By allowing certain nonimmigrant status holders the opportunity to adjust to permanent resident status.

The TVPA strengthened the U.S. Government’s prevention efforts by

• Providing for international initiatives to be established and carried out to improve economic opportunity for potential victims as a means of deterring trafficking.
• Creating the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons in the State Department, making that office responsible for publishing an annual Trafficking In Persons (TIP) report that describes and ranks the efforts of countries to combat human trafficking. The TIP Report is the U.S. Government’s principal diplomatic tool to engage foreign governments on human trafficking.
• Requiring the President to establish an Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking (PITF), a coordinating task force comprising cabinet-level officers chaired by the Secretary of State, and directed it to carry out activities that included measuring and evaluating the progress of the United States and other countries in preventing human trafficking, protecting its victims, and prosecuting its perpetrators.

Prosecution

The TVPA sharpened and enhanced the capacity of federal prosecutors to bring human traffickers to justice for their crimes by:

• Adding new criminal provisions prohibiting forced labor, trafficking with respect to peonage, slavery, involuntary servitude, or forced labor, and sex trafficking of children or by force, fraud, or coercion;
• Criminalizing attempts to engage in these activities; Mandating that traffickers pay restitution to their victims, and providing for forfeiture;
• Strengthening penalties for existing trafficking crimes

The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003

The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003 (TVPRA 2003), Pub. L. No. 108-193, refined federal criminal provisions against trafficking, to include adding human trafficking crimes as a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) predicate, and created a civil remedy enabling trafficking victims to file lawsuits against their traffickers in federal district court.

The TVPRA 2003 also established a Senior Policy Operating Group (SPOG) within the executive branch, to “coordinate activities of Federal departments and agencies regarding policies (including grants and grant policies) involving the international trafficking in persons and the implementation of” the TVPA. The SPOG consists of the senior officials from the agencies that work to address TIP, and is chaired by the Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking Persons (TIP Office) of the Department of State (DOS).

In addition, the TVPRA 2003 mandated an  annual report from the Attorney General  to the U.S. Congress regarding U.S. governmental efforts to implement the TVPA.

The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005

Among other things, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (TVPRA 2005), Pub. L. No. 109-164, provided extraterritorial jurisdiction over trafficking offenses committed overseas by persons employed by or accompanying the federal government.

The statute established a grant program for states, Indian tribes, local governments, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to develop, expand, and strengthen assistance for trafficking victims and directed the Department of Health and Human Services to establish and implement a pilot program to provide benefits and services for juvenile trafficking victims.

The TVPRA 2005 also established a grant program for state and local law enforcement agencies to combat trafficking. In addition, the TVPRA 2005 expanded the reporting requirements of the TVPRA 2003.

The William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008

The William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA 2008), Pub. L. No. 110-457, featured new measures to prevent and deter trafficking. The TVPRA 2008 further improved the tools available to hold traffickers accountable by:

• Creating new crimes that impose appropriately serious penalties on those who obstruct or attempt to obstruct the investigation and prosecution of trafficking crimes;
• Permitting prosecution of sex traffickers who recklessly disregard the fact that force, fraud, or coercion would be used against the victim;

With respect to prevention and protection, the TVPRA 2008 directed the government to provide information about workers’ rights to all people applying for work and education-based visas. The TVPRA 2008 expanded the protections available with the T visa, and required that all unaccompanied alien children be screened as potential victims of human trafficking.

• Eliminating the requirement to prove the defendant knew a sex trafficking victim was a minor in cases where the defendant had a reasonable opportunity to observe the minor;
• Expanding the crime of forced labor by providing that “force” includes the abuse or threatened abuse of legal process;
• Imposing criminal liability on those who, knowingly and with intent to defraud, recruit workers from outside the United States for employment within the United States by making materially false or fraudulent representations;
• Increasing the penalty for conspiring to commit trafficking-related crimes; 
• Penalizing those who knowingly benefit financially from participating in a venture that engaged in trafficking crimes.

The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2013

The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2013 (TVPRA 2013), Pub. L. No. 113-4, focused in part on the elimination of human trafficking from the supply chain of goods.  This legislation required the Director of the DOS TIP Office—working with other DOS officials, DOL officials, and other U.S. governmental officials—to build partnerships between the U.S. Government and private entities to ensure that U.S. citizens do not use items, products, or materials produced or extracted with the use and labor of trafficking victims and that those entities do not contribute to trafficking in persons involving sexual exploitation.

The TVPRA 2013 also:

• Strengthened the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking used by DOS to describe the antitrafficking efforts of U.S. and foreign governments in its annual TIP Report;
• Amended the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) Act to include labor contract fraud; Amended the federal criminal code to (1) subject U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens who reside overseas and engage in illicit sexual conduct with a person under 18 years of age to a fine or imprisonment or both; and (2) subject a person who knowingly destroys, conceals, removes, confiscates, or possesses certain immigration documents to a fine or imprisonment or both
• Extended the statute of limitations for a person to bring a civil action for an injury received while the person was a minor that was caused by certain sex- or forced labor-related violations of federal criminal law; and added reporting requirements for the Attorney General’s human trafficking report.

The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015

The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 (JVTA), Pub. L. No. 114-22, again gave the Department more tools to address human trafficking, by:

• Adding “patronizes” and “solicits” to 18 U.S.C. § 1591(a) to facilitate prosecution of customers of sex trafficking victims. Adding “advertises” to the modes of commission of an offense under 18 U.S.C. § 1591 when there is proof that the defendant knew the victim being advertised was a minor or that force, fraud, or coercion would be used;
• Clarifying that there is no need to prove either that the defendant knew, or that he recklessly disregarded, the fact that a sex trafficking victim was a minor if the defendant had a reasonable opportunity to observe the victim;
• Amending 18 U.S.C. § 1594 to direct any assets forfeited in a human trafficking case to be used to satisfy a victim restitution order. It further allows forfeiture of, for example, any asset that is involved in, or is traceable to the proceeds of, human trafficking;
• Adding the production of child pornography to the definition of “illicit sexual conduct” as used in 18 U.S.C. § 2423, which prohibits transportation and travel-conduct involving illegal sexual activity with children. See 18 U.S.C. § 2423(f);
• Creating a mandatory $5,000 special assessment that applies to non-indigent defendants for each count of conviction of certain offenses, including offenses set forth in Chapter 77 and Chapter 110. The revenue generated from this special assessment shall be used to support programs to provide services to victims of human trafficking and other offenses; and
• Directing the Attorney General to create and maintain a National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking.

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2017

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2017, Pub. L. No. 115-393, provided additional funding and mandates to support victims of trafficking, and to increase transparency of the federal government’s anti-trafficking work, including: 

• Requiring the Attorney General to issue a human trafficking victim screening protocol for use in all federal anti-trafficking law enforcement operations, and, in consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services, to identify and disseminate tools and recommended practices for the screening of HT victims;
• Directing DOJ to submit a report to Congress on the efforts by the National Institute of Justice to develop methodology to assess prevalence of human trafficking in the United States;
• Mandating the U.S. Advisory Council to review federal government policies and programs and file its findings annually in a report to Congress;
• Adding 18 U.S.C. §1595A, which allows the AG to bring a civil injunction to enjoin any act under Chapter 77, Chapter 110, or 117.

Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2017

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2017, Pub. L. No. 115-427, added provisions focused on increasing the federal government’s ability to effectively assess foreign government compliance with TVPA minimum standards; and encouraging increased collaboration between government and private industry in efforts to prevent and combat human trafficking.

The Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2018

The Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2018, Pub. L. No. 115-425, among other things, increased the federal government’s focus on addressing forced labor, including by:

• Amending the 18 U.S.C. 1375c to include prevention and prohibition of labor trafficking in diplomatic households
• Increased reporting obligations regarding the prohibition of goods produced through forced labor

The Act also required the SPOG to establish a working group focused on demand reduction, and amended the Child Soldiers Prevention Act to include “police or other security forces.”

• Committees and Caucuses
• Legislative Work
• Voting Record
• Financial Disclosures
• Invite Me To Speak
• Schedule a Meeting
• District Office
• Washington, D.C. Office
• Website Problem
• Help With a Federal Agency
• Grant Opportunities
• Veteran Assistance
• Congressional Commendations
• Service Academy Nominations
• Tours & Tickets
• Flag Requests
• Internships
• Press Releases
• Battling The Opioid Epidemic
• Blocked Railroad Crossings
• Community Project Funding Requests
• Dealing with Inflation
• Fighting Hunger
• Prescription Drop-Boxes
• Protecting Americans From Cyberstalking
• Search Search Go

Fitzpatrick, Keating Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Cut Off Human Traffickers from Global Financial System

January 31 , 2024.

WASHINGTON, DC – Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) & Bill Keating (MA-9) today introduced the End Banking for Human Traffickers Act of 2024 . This bipartisan legislation would help law enforcement and financial institutions identify and report suspected human traffickers so they can be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

The End Banking for Human Traffickers Act would:

• Direct federal banking regulators to work with law enforcement and financial institutions to combat the use of the financial system for human trafficking.
• Increase collaboration between the private sector, law enforcement, and experts in financial crimes.
• Require the Financial Institutions Examination Council to review and enhance training and examination procedures to improve the capabilities of anti-money laundering and other efforts to detect financial transactions related to human trafficking.
• Require the Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons to analyze current United States Government and financial institution anti-money laundering efforts and develop recommendations for Congress and regulators that would strengthen anti-money laundering programs to better target and combat human trafficking.

“As Human Trafficking Prevention Month comes to a close, we must remain committed to our duty to disrupt and end this despicable crime which devastates the lives of tens of millions around the world, including, unfortunately, in the United States,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “Traffickers utilize the services of banks, credit card companies, and money transfer businesses around the world to launder illegal funds. Our bipartisan End Banking for Human Traffickers Act would strengthen collaborative efforts to keep these criminals from being able to use the global financial apparatus for their heinous activities. I am grateful for Representative Keating’s partnership in this critical effort to both halt traffickers’ access to financial institutions and the ability to exploit their victims.”

“Human Trafficking is a devastating criminal enterprise that destroys the lives of all involved and preys upon those most vulnerable,”  said Congressman Keating. “The End Banking for Human Traffickers Act is vital legislation which will close loopholes and direct regulators to work with law enforcement to combat the use of the financial system by human traffickers.”

Read the text of the bill here .

Permalink: https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/2024/1/fitzpatrick-keating-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-cut-off-human-traffickers-from-global-financial-system

US Bipartisan Bill Aims to End Visa-Free Travel to US, EU, UK for Countries with Citizenship by Investment Programs

David Bonellie Dubai

Two United States congressmen have introduced the No Travel for Traffickers Act which, they say, “addresses the severe security risks of golden passports, signaling a critical step in our efforts to isolate bad actors around the globe.”

“Human trafficking kingpins and other international criminal enterprises rely heavily on their passport purchasing power to freely travel the world, establish a foothold in multiple countries, open bank accounts, and evade accountability,” says Rep. Burgess Owens on the bipartisan legislation that he and Rep. Steve Cohen introduced the to Congress on Friday.

The congressmen believe that citizenship by investment programs have minimal vetting processes, poor due diligence, and are “notoriously abused by human traffickers, international criminals, and corrupt oligarchs.”

The announcement follows the joint commitment from the EU, US, Uk, Japan, and Canada to “ limit the sale of citizenship – so-called Golden Passports – that allow wealthy Russians connected to the Russian Government to become citizens of European countries and gain access to their financial systems.”

The Act will try to bring in legislation to remove eligibility for the US Visa Waiver Program for countries operating citizenship by investment programs (CIPs).

According to the statement, the Act aims to:

• Ban participation of countries that sell passports from participation in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.
• Mandate that the Executive Branch list publicly all countries with citizenship-by-investment or “Golden Passport” programs.
• Direct the Executive Branch to cooperate with the United Kingdom and the European Union to eliminate Schengen area visa-free travel for countries that sell passports.
• Prohibit the use of U.S. taxpayer funds to vet “golden passport” applicants so taxpayer dollars cannot be used to enable these corrupt programs. 

Malta is not the only country potentially in trouble

Currently, the only CIP country with visa-free access to the US is Malta, which hosts the MEIN Policy , effectively a hybrid-CIP that the government has studiously avoided referring to as a “program”.

Perhaps more disconcerting, however, is that the bill’s sponsors also seek to “cooperate with the United Kingdom and European Union to eliminate Schengen area visa-free travel for countries that sell passports,” which would imply that the Caribbean and Montenegrin CIPs are also in the crosshairs.

Marshall Billingslea, former Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing at the US Department of the Treasury, has endorsed the congressmen and their bill, stating that “Criminals and traffickers abuse these so-called “golden passport” schemes from around the world, and this practice needs to come to an end.”

As it stands, Malta is the only country that would be directly affected by the Act, as no other CBI countries are part of the US visa waiver program.

• Author Details

David is a South African blockchain and crypto analyst working on innovation and business strategy consulting from Dubai. He also helps clients with investment migration.

Privacy Overview

Multicultural Meanderings

Working site on citizenship and multiculturalism issues.

• “Because it’s 2015 …” Implementing Diversity and Inclusion
• Executive Summary
• Overview Deck
• Table of Contents
• Charts and Tables
• Multiculturalism in Canada: Evidence and Anecdote (2016 Census data)
• 10 Inconvenient Truths: Policy Arrogance or Innocent Bias Deck
• Policy Arrogance or Innocent Bias – One Year Later
• Excerpt: Introduction
• Media Quotes
• Book Launch Speaking Notes
• Press Release
• Chart 1: Evolution of Canadian Diversity 1867 – 2017
• Chart 2: Situating Immigration, Integration and Citizenship within Broader Context
• Chart 3: Ministerial Outreach by Community
• Table 1: Multiculturalism Program Evolution
• Table 2: Citizenship and Multiculturalism Policy Shifts
• Table 3: Contrasting Multiculturalism Priorities — 2004-5 to 2011-11
• Table 4: Contrasting Ministerial Messaging 2003-04 and 2011-12
• Table 5: Ethnic Community Specific Challenges
• Table 6: Religious Group Specific Challenges
• Table 7: Comparison Between Current and Proposed Programming
• Table 8: Language Assessment and Equivalencies
• Table 9: Diversity Paradigms
• Table 10: Multiculturalism/ Interculturalisme Comparison
• Table 11: Radicalization-Related Multiculturalism Projects
• Table 12: Transition to CIC Organizational Structure
• Appendix A: Source Country of Immigrants 2005 – 2012
• Appendix B: Categories of Immigrants 2005 – 2012
• Appendix C: Ministerial Speeches and Statements by Community 2007 – 11
• Appendix D: Lapses in Multiculturalism Program G&Cs
• Appendix E: Key Ministerial Messages in Annual Reports of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act
• Appendix F: Citizenship Operational Statistics and Backlog
• Appendix G: Source Country of New Canadian Citizens
• Appendix H: CIC Datasets Sorted by Program Area
• Deck – 10 Inconvenient Truths
• Book Availability
• Living with Cancer: A Journey
• Canadian Bar Association Presentation 8 May 2015: Citizenship: “Harder to Get and Easier to Lose”
• The Evolution of Citizenship: Policy, Program and Operations: Sources
• The new citizenship act is efficient. Is it fair?
• A relentlessly upbeat take on citizenship: My Review of Belonging: The Paradox of Citizenship
• Multiculturalism: Getting the Balance Right
• Role of Media in Integrating Immigrants: Metropolis Panel Discussion
• Resetting Citizenship and Multiculturalism: Optimum Online Vol. 43 Issue 2 June 2013
• Excerpt: Discover Canada Citizenship Guide
• ATIP Delay Log
• C-6 Committee Meetings
• Alliance of Canadian Terror Victims Presentation – May 5
• B’nai Brith C-24 Brief – April 30
• C-24 Committee Meetings
• Canadian Arab Institute
• Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants
• Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL)
• Canadian Bar Association
• Canadian Council for Refugees
• Christopher Thomson (pre-PR time)
• Metro Toronto Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic Submission – May 12
• New Citizenship Act is Efficient. Is it Fair?
• Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants – April 30
• Parkdale Community Legal Services Brief – May 5
• Parkdale Community Legal Services Statements – C-24 – May 5
• Pre-PR Time Counts – Brief – May 7
• Pre-PR Time Counts – C-24 Statement – May 7
• Professor Elke Winter, University of Ottawa – Statement – May 7
• Professor Patti Tamara Lenard, U of Ottawa – Brief – May 7
• Unicef Canada
• Ethnic Media Coverage
• Riding profile links
• Top ridings by group
• Radicalization
• Antisemitism
• Immigration
• Citizenship

Uncertainty For Malta As US Bill Seeks To Ban Countries Which Sell Citizenship From Visa Waiver Programme

2022/03/05 Leave a comment

Two US Congressmen, from both sides of the American political fence, have presented a bill to exclude countries which sell citizenship from its visa waiver program. This bill could have serious implications for Malta, which is one of 40 countries that benefit from the program, which allows people to travel to the US for 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. Republican Congressman Burgess Owens and Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen have now presented the ‘No Travel for Traffickers Act’, which would revoke a country’s eligibility for the US Visa Waiver Programme if they participate in citizenship-by-investment schemes. The Act would also direct the US executive to cooperate with the EU and the UK to eliminate Schengen area visa-free travel for countries that sell passports and prohibit US public funds to vet ‘golden passport’ applicants. “Also known as ‘golden passports’, these schemes require little vetting and are notoriously abused by human traffickers, international criminals, and corrupt oligarchs,” the Congressmen said. “Russia is one of the world’s worst offenders when it comes to using these golden passport schemes as a back door into other countries.”

Rep. Owens said the Act signals a critical step “in our efforts to isolate bad actors around the globe”, while Rep. Cohen warned citizenship-by-investment schemes allow traffickers to escape accountability for their crimes.   Malta launched its original citizenship-by-investment scheme in 2013 but revamped it in 2020, only allowing applicants to apply for citizenship after one year of residence in the country against a €750,000 fee, or after three years if they pay €600,000. The government has insisted due diligence procedures to vet applicants are among the strictest in the world. It is facing renewed international pressure to scrap the scheme, including by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola , in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.   “We can no longer sell passports to Putin’s friends allowing them to circumvent our security. No more,” Metsola said this week.

Source: Uncertainty For Malta As US Bill Seeks To Ban Countries Which Sell Citizenship From Visa Waiver Programme

Filed under Citizenship , citizenship-by-investment Tagged with Malta , No Travel for Traffickers Act’ , USA

Follow Blog via Email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Email Address:

• Multiculturalism in Canada: Evidence and Anecdote

Click image for book purchase

Follow me on Twitter

Facebook Page

• Historica-Dominion Institute
• Institute for Canadian Citizenship
• UK FCO Consular Forum
• Actively Passive
• Association for Canadian Studies
• Cd Howe Institute
• Centre for Immigration Policy Reform
• Conference Board of Canada
• Fraser Institute
• INRS Centre Urbanisation Culture Société
• Institute for Research on Public Policy
• Maytree Foundation
• New Canadian Media
• Public Policy Forum
• Multiculturalism
• Global Centre for Pluralism
• Interculturalism Symposium
• La géographie du Canada et sa diversité culturelle
• National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada
• February 2024
• January 2024
• December 2023
• November 2023
• October 2023
• September 2023
• August 2023
• February 2023
• January 2023
• December 2022
• November 2022
• October 2022
• September 2022
• August 2022
• February 2022
• January 2022
• December 2021
• November 2021
• October 2021
• September 2021
• August 2021
• February 2021
• January 2021
• December 2020
• November 2020
• October 2020
• September 2020
• August 2020
• February 2020
• January 2020
• December 2019
• November 2019
• October 2019
• September 2019
• August 2019
• February 2019
• January 2019
• December 2018
• November 2018
• October 2018
• September 2018
• August 2018
• February 2018
• January 2018
• December 2017
• November 2017
• October 2017
• September 2017
• August 2017
• February 2017
• January 2017
• December 2016
• November 2016
• October 2016
• September 2016
• August 2016
• February 2016
• January 2016
• December 2015
• November 2015
• October 2015
• September 2015
• August 2015
• February 2015
• January 2015
• December 2014
• November 2014
• October 2014
• September 2014
• August 2014
• February 2014
• January 2014
• December 2013
• November 2013
• October 2013
• September 2013
• August 2013
• February 2013
• January 2013
• Admissability
• Birth Tourism
• Birthright Citizenship
• Charte de la laïcité
• Charte des valeurs québécoise
• Citizenship Act
• citizenship-by-investment
• Discover Canada
• discrimination
• disinformation
• Dual Citizenship
• employment equity
• foreign policy
• Hate crimes
• Historical Recognition
• Honour Killings
• Humanitarian
• Integration
• Interculturalisme
• Islamophobia
• Public Policy
• Social Media

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Sign me up!

Blog at WordPress.com.

• Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
• Subscribe Subscribed
• Report this content
• View site in Reader
• Manage subscriptions
• Collapse this bar

• Conveyancing and Property Transfer
• Thailand Condominium Law
• Jurisprudence
• Thailand Corporate Law
• US Corporate Law
• Thailand Tax Law
• Board of Investment (BOI) Registration of a Company in Thailand
• Contract Law
• Bail in Thailand
• Criminal Jurisprudence Thailand
• Attorney Services and Prison Visitation
• Criminal Litigation
• Thailand Immigration Law
• US Immigration Law
• Nationality Law
• What's the Difference Between Thai Visa on Arrival and a 30 Day Stamp?
• Marriage Registration
• Prenuptial and Premarital Agreements
• Prenuptial Agreements for Thai-American Marriages
• Surrogacy In Thailand
• When Did Needless Restrictions Become "Natural"?
• Is U.S. Policy on Cannabis Changing?

Legal Services & Resources 

Up to date legal information pertaining to Thai, American, & International Law.

Contact us: +66 2-266 3698

[email protected]

The "No Travel for Traffickers Act"?

Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing the proposed, and let me be clear this is still a proposed piece of legislation. It has not been promulgated by either the US House of Representatives nor has it been passed through the Senate or signed by the President of the United States, it remains a bill but it is proposed and it does seem to have bipartisan support and it could have some substantial ramifications for expats the world over frankly, including here in Southeast Asia. 

I am taking this from  owens.house.gov , and the announcement is titled: Owens, Cohen Introduce the No travel for Traffickers Act. Quoting directly: "Today, Representatives Burgess Owens, (Utah District 4) and Steve Cohen, (Tennessee District 9) introduced the No Travel for Traffickers Act, bipartisan legislation to revoke a country's eligibility for the U.S. Visa Waiver Program if they participate in citizenship by investment, the practice of selling passports in exchange for economic investment. Also known as "golden passports," these schemes require little vetting and are notoriously abused by human traffickers, International criminals, and corrupt oligarchs. Russia is one of the world's worst offenders when it comes to using these golden passport schemes as a back door into other countries." 

Well I find this whole legislation rather odd. First of all, it seems a little bit kind of over the top hubris for the United States to be trying to dictate Immigration, internal Immigration policies and Naturalization policies of other sovereign nations. But what they are really doing, they are not really doing that, they are kind of trying to do it indirectly by saying "okay well if you engage in this you may not be eligible for the Visa Waiver Program" which is a program by which certain passport holders can travel to the United States without the need for a Visa. Now my response to this would be would be, well just how useful is the Visa waiver program for most countries these days anyway especially since the end of the Bush Administration and the creation of ESTA, the Electronic System for Travel Authorization. I mean ESTA essentially was like a roundabout Visa. Those who could utilize the Visa Waiver Program had to go through the ESTA program in order to be pre-qualified to even enter the country. I compared the so-called Certificates of Entry here in Thailand as well as the Thailand Pass to the ESTA program. When those first were created, I compared them extensively especially the Certificates of Entry to the ESTA program because it was, in Thailand's case it was a visa on top of a visa in many ways. It was a travel document on top of a travel document. In the case of the United States okay you are waived from actually needing a Visa but you have still got to go through ESTA which as a practical matter is basically a Visa in all the ways that matter. It is like a digital Visa. 

So I am not even going to get into this whole "is this right or wrong" that they have these policies regarding second citizenships. I would maybe urge the House and it seems to be bipartisan, maybe think about this long and hard because a lot of these countries that are doing this are doing it for the financial incentives. On top of this, their nationals still have to deal with ESTA anyway so how are they going to react? On top of it, just setting aside the kind of emotional response to another country telling them how to set their Immigration policies, where you have ESTA now and the Visa Waiver Program is not just sort of an easy thing to do, a "no hassle" thing to do, kind of begs the question whether or not some of these countries are going to care about this new legislation.

H.R. 6911 (117 th ): No Travel for Traffickers Act of 2022

Here’s how to call or write congress about this bill.

We’ll walk you through the process of writing or calling your representative and senators in Congress about H.R. 6911 (117th). But before we can help, we need to know where you call home so we can figure out who represents you.

I live at...

Is this your home.

Check that we’ve placed the marker on the map where your home is. If we got it right, scroll down to continue below the map . If we got it wrong, scroll up and try entering another address in your congressional district.

You live in ’s congressional district.

You are represented by:

H.R. 6911 (117th) is currently pending before the House of Representatives, so we will help you connect with your representative . You will ask them to either cosponsor or oppose the bill.

H.R. 6911 (117th) is currently pending before the House of Representatives, but your district does not have a representative at this time. Unfortunately there isn’t anyone in Congress for you to call about this bill. Try looking up other legislation on this topic.

General tips

Your representative and senators were elected by you and upwards of a million to tens of millions of your fellow Americans, but by law they each only have a small team of correspondents on staff to read and respond to all of their mail.

Be patient and respectful to the staff member you reach — you want them on your side, don’t you?

The way to stand out is to provide a brief but specific personal story about how this bill would affect your life. If you don’t have a personal story, you may want to write or call about a different topic.

Do they want to hear from you? Yes! They need your support next election. But that doesn’t mean you’ll change their mind. On hot issues, their vote is often already made up. But on other issues, you could be their first constituent to weigh in.

How to call or write

Calling and writing your are equally effective ways to make your voice heard. Choose the method that you are most comfortable with.

is a cosponsor of H.R. 6911 (117th), so you can thank for support if you support this bill.

is on a committee that H.R. 6911 (117th) has been referred to, and vote will be needed to advance the bill ( is ).

How to write

• Visit the ’s website at . (This link will open a new browser tab.)
• Look for the contact form for submitting your opinion on legislation.
• Enter your name and address.
• Copy and paste one of the messages below and modify it to include a personal story about how this issue would affect your life :

if you support the bill

I am writing to .

Thank you for your time.

if you oppose the bill

You can expect to get a form response, but know that your is typically tallying the messages they receive on each side of each issue .

How to call

You can reach ’s office by calling . A staff member in the ’s office will probably pick up the phone. Your conversation will go something like this:

’s office. How can I help you?

Hi, I’m a constituent and I am calling to .

Then say just one sentence about how this issue affects your life to show the staffer that the issue means something to you. When the staffer asks

Can I get your name and address?

provide your name and address so your call is counted, and then say Thank you for your time. and you’ll be done!

Your goal is to be counted, so a quick and courteous call like this is all it takes. If you get voicemail, leave your name and address in your message.

[error message]

Forgot Username or Password

Owens, Cohen introduces the No Travel for Traffickers Act

• Share on Facebook
• Tweet on Twitter

WASHINGTON, USA – March 3, Reps. Burgess Owens (UT-04) and Steve Cohen (TN-09) introduced the No Travel for Traffickers Act, bipartisan legislation to revoke a country's eligibility for the US Visa Waiver Program if they participate in citizenship-by-investment, the practice of selling passports in exchange for economic investment. Also known as“golden passports,” these schemes require little vetting and are notoriously abused by human traffickers, international criminals, and corrupt oligarchs. Russia is one of the world's worst offenders when it comes to using these golden passport schemes as a back door into other countries.

“Human trafficking kingpins and other international criminal enterprises rely heavily on their passport purchasing power to freely travel the world, establish a foothold in multiple countries, open bank accounts, and evade accountability,” said Rep. Owens.“The No Travel for Traffickers Act addresses the severe security risks of golden passports, signaling a critical step in our efforts to isolate bad actors around the globe.”

“Giving traffickers the ability to purchase passports or extending citizenship rights allows them to travel the world and escape accountability for their crimes,” said Rep. Cohen.“Many countries sell citizenship to traffickers through phony 'investments' such as real estate, and this must be stopped. I am proud to join Congressman Owens in introducing the No Travel for Traffickers Act, which will help restrict this misuse of the legal process.”

“Congressmen Owens and Cohen are leading to protect our security by introducing bipartisan legislation to clamp down on the dangerous practice by some countries who sell their citizenship and passports. These so-called“golden passport” schemes are abused by criminals and traffickers from around the world, and this practice needs to come to an end.” – Marshall Billingslea, former Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing at the US Department of the Treasury.

Specifically, the No Travel for Traffickers Act would:

• Ban participation of countries that sell passports from participation in the US Visa Waiver Program.
• Mandate that the Executive Branch list publicly all countries with citizenship-by-investment or“Golden Passport” programs.
• Direct the Executive Branch to cooperate with the United Kingdom and the European Union to eliminate Schengen area visa-free travel for countries that sell passports.
• Prohibit the use of US taxpayer funds to vet“golden passport” applicants so taxpayer dollars cannot be used to enable these corrupt programs.

Related: Antigua – Barbuda ambassador questions legislation before US House of Representatives on Citizenship by Investment

MENAFN09032022000232011072ID1103822905

Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

Most popular stories

Iran's President Offers To Contribute To Sri Lanka's Progress...

Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister To Attend Riyadh Meeting...

Maithripala Demands Rs 1 Bn Compensation From Amaraweera...

Pentagon To 'Rush' Patriot Missiles To Ukraine In $6Bn Package...

President Appeals To Public Not To Back Another 'Aragalaya'...

Market research.

• Fecal Occult Testing Market 2024, Industry Growth, Share, Size And Foreca...
• Commercial Greenhouse Market Trends, Size, Share, Analysis, 2024-2032 | I...
• Activated Alumina Market Trends, Size, Share, Analysis, 2024-2032 | IMARC...
• India Structured Cabling Market Is Growing At A CAGR Of 9.75% During The ...
• Infrastructure-As-A-Service (Iaas) Market Trends, Size, Share, Analysis, ...
• India Crane Market Is Expected To Reach US$ 5.2 Billion By 2032...
• Smart Bathroom Market Trends, Size, Share, Analysis, 2024-2032 | IMARC Gr...

More Stories

Kashmir Boat Capsize Tragedy: Another Student's Body Recovered After 12 D...

Amid Javadekar-Jayarajan Row, Kerala CPI(M) Secretariat To Meet On Monday...

Four Killed In Drone Attack On Gas Field In Iraq...

Hansal Watches ‘Laapataa Ladies’, Says ‘Sometimes All That Is Needed Is S...

Sri Lanka, Ireland Make Promising Starts In ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qua...

Australians And Kiwis In Sri Lanka Commemorate Anzac Day...

Uma Oya Development Project Declared Open...

Damitha Abeyratne And Husband Granted Bail...

Sajith Announces Decision To Contest Presidential Polls...

Racing Car Drivers Involved In Fox Hill Accident Granted Bail...

Motorists In Colombo Honk Their Horns In Protest Over Road Closure...

Daily(English) Daily(Arabic) All()

• News by Industry
• Submit Your press
• Submit your Articles
• Global Indices
• MENA Indices
• Qutoes & Charts
• End of Day stocks
• Currency Convertor
• Cross Rates
• Historical Currencies
• Mena Stocks
• Stocks Search
• Commodoties
• Oil & Energy
• Economic Calendar
• Premium Research
• Free Research
• Saudi Arabia
• Financial Glossary

Airlines must cough up cancellation cash and can no longer hide fees under new federal rule

A federal rule announced Wednesday will require airlines to quickly give cash refunds — without lengthy arguments — to passengers whose flights have been canceled or seriously delayed, the Biden administration said.

“Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them — without headaches or haggling,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement.

The rule from the Transportation Department says passengers who decline other reimbursement like travel credits are to get cash refunds.

It applies when a flight is canceled or has a “significant change,” the administration said.A “significant change” includes when departure or arrival times are three or more hours different from the scheduled times for domestic flights or six hours for international flights, and when the airport is changed or connections are added, it said.

Passengers are also to get refunds when their baggage is 12 hours late in delivery for domestic flights.

The new rule comes after promises to hold airlines accountable after major disruptions that made travel hell for passengers, including the 2022 Southwest Airlines meltdown , which resulted in almost 17,000 significantly delayed or canceled flights and a missing baggage nightmare.

The Transportation Department said that the new rule means refunds are automatic and that "airlines must automatically issue refunds without passengers having to explicitly request them or jump through hoops."

Also announced Wednesday was a rule requiring airlines to more clearly disclose so-called junk fees upfront, such as surprise baggage or other fees, the department said.

It said that rule is expected to save fliers around $500 million a year.

The surprise fees are used so tickets look cheaper than they really are, and then fliers get the unwelcome surprise of fees on checked bags, carry-on bags or reservation changes — or even discounts that are advertised but apply to only part of the ticket price, officials said.

Airlines will also have to tell fliers clearly that their seats are guaranteed and that they don't have to pay extra to ensure they have seats for flights, according to the Transportation Department.

Airlines for America, an industry trade group, said that its member airlines “offer transparency and vast choice to consumers from first search to touchdown” and that they do offer cash refunds.

The 11 largest U.S. airlines returned $10.9 billion in cash refunds last year, an increase over $7.5 billion in 2019 but slightly down from $11.2 billion in 2022, the group said.

“U.S. airlines are providing more options and better services while ticket prices, including ancillary revenues, are at historic lows,” Airlines for America said.

Left out of the federal changes announced Wednesday are those involving "family seating fees," but the Transportation Department said in a statement that "DOT is planning to propose a separate rule that bans airlines from charging these junk fees."

Travelers have complained to the Transportation Department that children weren’t seated next to accompanying adults, including in some cases young children, department officials said last year.

Fees on bags specifically have made up an increasing amount of airline revenues, the Transportation Department said Wednesday in announcing the new rules.

A Transportation Department analysis found that airline revenue from baggage fees increased 30% from 2018 to 2022, while operating revenue — which is from the flights themselves — increased by only half that amount, the department said.

Jay Blackman is an NBC News producer covering such areas as transportation, space, medical and consumer issues.

Phil Helsel is a reporter for NBC News.