Federal · Title 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse

22 U.S.C. § 212a: Restriction of passports for sex tourism

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

The Secretary of State must deny or revoke passports for individuals convicted of sex tourism offenses under 18 U.S.C. § 2423 if they used a passport in committing the crime, with limited exceptions for emergencies or humanitarian reasons.

Read the full statutory text
the Secretary of State for appropriate action under subsection (b); and the Secretary of Homeland Security for appropriate action under the Immigration and Nationality Act [ 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.]. The Secretary of State shall not issue a passport or passport card to an individual who is convicted of a violation of section 2423 of title 18 during the covered period if the individual used a passport or passport card or otherwise crossed an international border in committing the offense. The Secretary of State shall revoke a passport or passport card previously issued to an individual described in subparagraph (A). Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Secretary of State may issue a passport or passport card, in emergency circumstances or for humanitarian reasons, to an individual described in paragraph (1)(A). Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Secretary of State may, prior to revocation, limit a previously issued passport or passport card only for return travel to the United States, or may issue a limited passport or passport card that only permits return travel to the United States. the date on which the individual is released from a sentence of imprisonment relating to the offense; and the end of a period of parole or other supervised release of the covered individual relating to the offense; and the term “imprisonment” means being confined in or otherwise restricted to a jail, prison, half-way house, treatment facility, or another institution, on a full or part-time basis, pursuant to the sentence imposed as the result of a criminal conviction.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.