§1374 Information Regarding Female Genital Mutilation

Summary

The Immigration and Naturalization Service, working with the State Department, must give people getting immigrant or nonimmigrant visas—before or when they enter the United States—information about the serious physical and mental harm caused by female genital mutilation. They must also explain the possible U.S. legal consequences for doing the procedure or for allowing a child in your care to be subjected to it, using language that focuses on the practice and respects cultural values. The INS commissioner and the Secretary of State will identify countries where the practice is common and, when possible, give this information mainly to people from those countries. Female genital mutilation means removal or infibulation (or both) of all or part of the clitoris, the labia minora, or the labia majora.