§212b Unique Passport Identifiers for Covered Sex Offenders

Summary

When the Angel Watch Center gives the State Department a written finding, using the process in section 21507 of title 34, that a person is a covered sex offender, the State Department must act. The Department cannot give that person a passport unless the passport has a visible special mark showing they are a covered sex offender. The Department may also cancel a passport already issued without that mark. If the Angel Watch Center later says in writing that the person no longer must register, the Department may reissue a passport without the mark. The State Department can ask passport applicants to say if they are a registered sex offender. The State, DHS, and Attorney General and their staff are not liable for actions taken under this rule. The rule starts only after those three officials certify the process from section 21507 of title 34 is in place. The law uses three terms: "covered sex offender" — a person who meets the sex-offender definition in section 21503(f) of title 34 and is required to register; "unique identifier" — a visible mark on the passport showing the person is a covered sex offender; and "passport" — a passport book or passport card.