Title 8 — Aliens and Nationality
Chapter 15 — Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform
§ 1732. Machine-readable, tamper-resistant entry and exit documents
Statutory text
Report
In general
Not later than 180 days after , the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), acting jointly, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a comprehensive report assessing the actions that will be necessary, and the considerations to be taken into account, to achieve fully, not later than —
implementation of the requirements of subsections (b) and (c); and
deployment of the equipment and software to allow biometric comparison and authentication of the documents described in subsections (b) and (c).
Estimates
In addition to the assessment required by paragraph (1), the report required by that paragraph shall include an estimate of the costs to be incurred, and the personnel, man-hours, and other support required, by the Department of Justice, the Department of State, and NIST to achieve the objectives of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1).
Requirements
In general
Not later than , the Attorney General and the Secretary of State shall issue to aliens only machine-readable, tamper-resistant visas and other travel and entry documents that use biometric identifiers. The Attorney General and the Secretary of State shall jointly establish document authentication standards and biometric identifiers standards to be employed on such visas and other travel and entry documents from among those biometric identifiers recognized by domestic and international standards organizations.
Readers and scanners at ports of entry
In general
Not later than , the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall install at all ports of entry of the United States equipment and software to allow biometric comparison and authentication of all United States visas and other travel and entry documents issued to aliens, and passports issued pursuant to subsection (c)(1).
Use of readers and scanners
The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall utilize biometric data readers and scanners that—
domestic and international standards organizations determine to be highly accurate when used to verify identity;
can read the biometric identifiers utilized under subsections (b)(1) and (c)(1); and
can authenticate the document presented to verify identity.
Use of technology standard
The systems employed to implement paragraphs (1) and (2) shall utilize the technology standard established pursuant to section 1379 of this title.
Repealed. Pub. L. 114–113, div. O, title II, § 202(c), , 129 Stat. 2989
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section, including reimbursement to international and domestic standards organizations.
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002
Pub. L. 107–173 title III § 303 · 116 Stat. 543
Enacted · 8 U.S.C. § 1732
Pub. L. 107–173, title III, § 303, May 14, 2002, 116 Stat. 553
Source evidence
Code source credit
Pub. L. 107–173, title III, § 303, May 14, 2002, 116 Stat. 553Enacted provision · exact public law section
SEC. 303. MACHINE-READABLE, TAMPER-RESISTANT ENTRY AND EXIT DOCUMENTS (a) Report.— (1) In general.— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), acting jointly, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a comprehensive report assessing the actions that will be necessary, and the considerations to be taken into account, to achieve fully, not later than October 26, 2004— (A) implementation of the requirements of subsections (b) and (c); and (B) deployment of the equipment and software to allow biometric comparison and authentication of the documents described in subsections (b) and (c). (2) Estimates.— In addition to the assessment required by paragraph (1), the report required by that paragraph shall include an estimate of the costs to be incurred, and the personnel, man-hours, and other support required, by the Department of Justice, the Department of State, and NIST to achieve the objectives of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1). (b) Requirements.—.— (1) In general.— Not later than October 26, 2004, the Attorney General and the Secretary of State shall issue to aliens only machine-readable, tamper-resistant visas and other travel and entry documents that use biometric identifiers. The Standards. Attorney General and the Secretary of State shall jointly establish document authentication standards and biometric identifiers standards to be employed on such visas and other travel and entry documents from among those biometric identifiers recognized by domestic and international standards organizations. (2) Readers and scanners at ports of entry.— (A) In general.— Not later than October 26, 2004, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall install at all ports of entry of the United States equipment and software to allow biometric comparison and authentication of all United States visas and other travel and entry documents issued to aliens, and passports issued pursuant to subsection (c)(1). (B) Use of readers and scanners.— The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall utilize biometric data readers and scanners that— (i) domestic and international standards organizations determine to be highly accurate when used to verify identity; (ii) can read the biometric identifiers utilized under subsections (b)(D and (c)(1); and (iii) can authenticate the document presented to verify identity. (3) Use of technology standard.— The systems employed to implement paragraphs (1) and (2) shall utilize the technology standard established pursuant to section 403(c) of the USA PATRIOT Act, as amended by section 201(c)(5) and 202(a)(4)(B). (c) Technology Standard for Visa Waiver Participants.— (1) Certification requirement.— Not later than October 26, 2004, the government of each country that is designated to participate in the visa waiver program established under section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act shall certify, as a condition for designation or continuation of that designation, that it has a program to issue to its nationals machine-readable passports that are tamper-resistant and incorporate biometric and document authentication identifiers that comply with applicable biometric and document identifying standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization. This paragraph shall not be construed to rescind the requirement of section 217(a)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. (2) Use of technology standard.— On and after October 26, 2004, any alien applying for admission under the visa waiver program under section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act shall present a passport that meets the requirements of paragraph (1) unless the alien’s passport was issued prior to that date. (d) Authorization of Appropriations.— There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section, including reimbursement to international and domestic standards organizations.Pub. L. 108–299 § 1 · 118 Stat. 1100
Substituted · 8 U.S.C. § 1732(b)(2)(A); 8 U.S.C. § 1732(b)(c)(1); 8 U.S.C. § 1732(b)(2)(2)
Pub. L. 108–299 substituted “2005” for “2004”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsecs. (b)(2)(A), (c)(1), (2). Pub. L. 108–299 substituted “2005” for “2004”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
SECTION 1. MODIFICATION OF CERTAIN DEADLINES FOR MACHINE-READABLE, TAMPER-RESISTANT ENTRY AND EXIT DOCUMENTS. Section 303 of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002 (8 U.S.C. 1732) is amended, in each of subsections (b)(2)(A), (c)(1), and (c)(2), by striking “2004,” and inserting “2005,”.Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2016
Pub. L. 114–113 div. O title II § 202(c) · 129 Stat. 2242
Struck · 8 U.S.C. § 1732(c)
Pub. L. 114–113 struck out subsec. (c), which related to technology standard for visa waiver participants
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 114–113 struck out subsec. (c), which related to technology standard for visa waiver participants.Enacted provision · exact public law section
Sec. 202. None of the funds appropriated by this title shall be available to pay for an abortion, except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term, or in the case of rape or incest: Provided, That should this prohibition be declared unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, this section shall be null and void.
3 of 3 references resolved to an enrolled provision
Editorial Notes
Amendments2004–2015 · 2 rounds
2015
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 114–113 struck out subsec. (c), which related to technology standard for visa waiver participants.
2004
Subsecs. (b)(2)(A), (c)(1), (2). Pub. L. 108–299 substituted “2005” for “2004”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service and Transfer of Functions
For abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service, transfer of functions, and treatment of related references, see note set out under section 1551 of this title.
Credits
2002–2015 · 3 acts
- 2002Pub. L. 107–173, title III, § 303, , 116 Stat. 553
- 2004Pub. L. 108–299, § 1, , 118 Stat. 1100
- 2015Pub. L. 114–113, div. O, title II, § 202(c), , 129 Stat. 2989.
Show as published
(Pub. L. 107–173, title III, § 303, , 116 Stat. 553; Pub. L. 108–299, § 1, , 118 Stat. 1100; Pub. L. 114–113, div. O, title II, § 202(c), , 129 Stat. 2989.)