Laws putting restrictions on international travel for sex offenders are proliferating across the United States. The public seems to overwhelmingly support any and all laws aimed at more restrictions on people required to register as sex offenders. Often overlooked or cared about is whether these restrictive public policy measures are constitutionally permissible. However, that could change if a New Jersey Congressman gets his way. State Department authorization bill H. According to Rep. Secretary of State discretion to limit the valid duration of passports for convicted sex offenders listed on the National Sex Offender Registry to one year. Passports are generally valid for up to 10 years. The amendment also gives the Secretary of State the power to revoke the passport of an individual convicted by a court of a sex offense in a foreign country. Secretary of State has any authority to restrict a U.
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The US State Department has begun revoking the passports of registered child sex offenders. Under the new law, registered sex offenders who have been convicted of an offense against a minor will no longer be able to use their current passports. Instead, they will have to apply for new sex offender passports that identify them as registered child sex offenders.
Can a Registered Sex Offender Travel Outside of the United States?
Travelling to specific countries like America and Australia will usually require you to apply for a visa due to their specific process. Taken from our top 10 things to know. Read our latest news posts about travelling abroad. Useful links to specific countries include:.
More foreign travel restrictions should be imposed on known British sex offenders and more suspects prosecuted in the UK for crimes committed overseas, the government has been told. In a page report on protecting children in other countries from exploitation, the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse IICSA has called for legislation formalising use of international child protection certificates for those working and volunteering abroad. It found that UK nationals requested consular assistance abroad between and after being arrested for child sex offences. That figure, the study suggests, is likely to represent only a fraction of the overall number of British offenders. Children are particularly vulnerable in states with high levels of poverty and corruption. Abusers often target disadvantaged families where family members are willing to act as facilitators , the inquiry warns. In such cases, the disparity between the financial position of the abuser, and that of the victim and their family is a key factor.
