Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
The SAFE VISITS Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to conduct threat analyses related to foreign nationals seeking access to state, local, tribal, and territorial government officials, facilities, and information systems, with a focus on potential terrorism threats. Within 180 days of enactment and annually thereafter, DHS must submit these analyses to Congress and share guidance with state and local governments, including descriptions of high-risk targets, trends in foreign visitor access attempts, and recommended security mitigation actions. If DHS identifies a particular government official, facility, or system as a high-risk target, the agency must conduct targeted outreach, assist with vetting foreign nationals, and provide specific security recommendations; additionally, DHS must request debriefings within 30 days after such visits occur to gather information on foreign nationals' techniques and access attempts. The bill also requires DHS to coordinate with its Science and Technology division to develop technology that improves information sharing for these purposes. This legislation affects state, local, tribal, and territorial governments that interact with visiting foreign nationals, and establishes an ongoing reporting requirement to Congress detailing DHS outreach and vetting assistance activities.
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