Visa Transparency Anti-Trafficking Act of 2021
12/29/2022, 9:48 PMSummary of Bill HR 7056
Bill 117 HR 7056, also known as the Visa Transparency Anti-Trafficking Act of 2021, aims to combat human trafficking by increasing transparency in the visa process. The bill requires the Secretary of State to provide an annual report to Congress on the number of visas issued to individuals who are suspected of being victims of human trafficking. This report will include information on the type of visa issued, the country of origin of the individual, and the reason for issuing the visa.Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of State to provide training to consular officers on identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking. This training will focus on recognizing the signs of trafficking, providing appropriate support and referrals, and ensuring the safety of victims.
Furthermore, the bill establishes a pilot program to provide temporary visas to victims of human trafficking who are willing to assist law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of trafficking crimes. This program aims to encourage victims to come forward and cooperate with authorities without fear of deportation. Overall, the Visa Transparency Anti-Trafficking Act of 2021 seeks to strengthen efforts to combat human trafficking by increasing transparency in the visa process, providing training to consular officers, and offering support to victims who assist in the prosecution of trafficking crimes.
Congressional Summary of HR 7056
Visa Transparency Anti-Trafficking Act of 2021
This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to build a searchable database with certain information about each temporary foreign nonimmigrant worker. The database shall include information such as (1) each worker's age, sex, and country of origin; (2) the type of visa used and the status of such visa; (3) where each worker is employed; and (4) each worker's occupation and the compensation received.
The database shall only be available to (1) law enforcement, (2) service providers to human trafficking victims, (3) worker protection organizations, and (4) entities agreeing to use the information only for research purposes.
The bill expands existing reporting requirements related to temporary foreign nonimmigrant workers to include additional information such as (1) the 10 employers that hired the most temporary foreign nonimmigrant workers, and (2) the 10 occupations with the most temporary foreign nonimmigrant workers.
