Mon, Oct 30, 2017 at 3:44 PMUgh! The Trump Administration reveals how it will implement International Megan’s Law (IML). An awful bill signed into law by Obama in 2016, IML requires anyone previously convicted of a sex offense involving a minor to have a “unique identifier” – a “visual designation affixed to a conspicuous location” on their passport! Nothing like this has turned up in US history, the IML scarlet letter is likely the first time US citizens are to be treated in such a fashion by their government. This scheme, however, does have historical precedent in other countries as David Post reminds us in an essay (below) titled, The yellow star, the scarlet letter and ‘International Megan’s Law.’
The US State Department has divulged that the identifier will be printed inside the back cover of a passport and read, “The bearer was convicted of a sex offense against a minor, and is a covered sex offender pursuant to 22 United States Code Section 212b(c)(l).”
Commentators say IML will contribute very little if anything to improving public safety while eroding the freedom to travel as well as ensure the domestic and international profiling and harassment of those subject to the law. Much more below about this new federal statute. –Bill Dobbs, The Dobbs Wire
State Department press release reveals “Unique Identifier for passports
Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws (ACSOL) – Oct. 29, 2017
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION REVEALS DETAILS OF THE “UNIQUE IDENTIFIER” REQUIRED ON PASSPORTS BY IML
News release: Passports and International Megan’s Law
U.S. Department of State | Oct. 30, 2017
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/news/passports-international-megans-law.html
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT IML BY THE SMART OFFICE OF THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Statute in review: International Megan’s Law
SMART Office Dispatch | Feb. 2016
https://smart.gov/pdfs/IML-Dispatch-2016.pdf
OFFICIAL TEXT OF INTERNATIONAL MEGAN’S LAW (IML)
International Megan’s Law to Prevent Child Exploitation and Other Sexual Crimes Through Advanced Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders
https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr515/BILLS-114hr515enr.pdf
NEWS AND COMMENTARY ABOUT IML
The yellow star, the scarlet letter and ‘International Megan’s Law’
Volokh Conspiracy via WashingtonPost.com | Jan. 6. 2016 | By David Post
Congress Acts to Mark Passports of Sex Offenders
The Marshall Project | Feb 9, 2016 | By Beth Schwartzapfel
https://www.themarshallproject.org/2016/02/02/congress-acts-to-mark-passports-of-sex-offenders
Editorial: Do sex offenders deserve a scarlet letter on their passport?
Los Angeles Times | Feb. 3, 2016
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-0203-sex-offenders-20160203-story.html
FURTHER INFORMATION AND LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE
Travel Matrix — The Travel Matrix is a list of nations along with information about how they handle entrance of visiting or moving registrants and their families.
Registrant Travel Action Group (RTAG)
http://registranttag.org/resources/travel-matrix/
Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offender Laws (ACSOL) – blog posts:
U.S. State Department Replies to IML Petition by ACSOL – Oct. 24, 2016
http://all4consolaws.org/2016/10/state-department-replies-to-iml-petition/
Letter from U.S. State Department to Janice Bellucci of ACSOL – Oct. 14, 2016
http://all4consolaws.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Letter-from-State-Dept.-Oct-2016.pdf
IML Report to Congress Addresses Passport Identifiers, Notifications to Foreign Countries – Oct. 10, 2016
Petition Challenges State Department Regulation – Sept. 12, 2016
http://all4consolaws.org/2016/09/petition-challenges-state-department-regulation/
Report to Congress by Dept. of Homeland Security, Dept. of State, Dept. of Justice – Aug. 26, 2016
Implementation of International Megan’s Law to Prevent Child Exploitation and Other Sexual Crimes Through Advanced Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders
http://all4consolaws.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Congressional-Report-Aug-2016.pdf
FEDERAL COURT CHALLENGE TO IML; PROTEST OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE
Doe v Kerry
US District Court, Northern District of California No. 16-cv-0654
Order granting motion to dismiss, filed Sept. 23, 2016:
http://www.courthousenews.com/2016/09/26/Passport.pdf
Sex-offender stamp on passports upheld after legal challenge
San Francisco Chronicle | Sept. 26, 2016 | By Bob Egelko
http://www.sfgate.com/nation/article/Judge-rules-against-sex-offenders-in-challenge-to-9289279.php
Protest against International Megan’s Law outside the federal courthouse in Oakland, CA in July 2016 (VIDEO)
Metamora Films via YouTube | July 31, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmacueeHDss
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We believe in justice, that persons who have caused harm may be held accountable for their actions. But justice also demands proportionality and due process, elements essential to distinguish justice from mere vengeance. The goal of any true system of justice must be restoration and re-integration, not the perpetual containment and incapacitation that have come to define the U.S. criminal legal system.