WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rick Scott introduced the Strengthened Checks for Reliable Evaluation of Entrants Nationwide (SCREEN) Act to help keep foreign child predators from obtaining visas and gaining access to American children.  

The bill would give the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. State Department access to data from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Currently, the NCMEC can only share reports with certain designated law enforcement agencies.

Recent reports have indicated that several cruise lines hired foreign workers admitted on C-1/D visas who were later found with Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). The SCREEN Act would help both DHS and the State Department weed out child predators like these during the visa application process.

Senator Rick Scott said, “The greatest country in the history of the world should have 100% certainty that we aren’t letting child predators come here on work visas. It’s inexcusable that we have let bureaucracy fail our children and put them in danger. It’s time to fix that. Interagency coordination is vital to both our national security and the safety of American children, and we need more of it. I’m proud to join with my colleagues like Sen. Budd and Rep. Gimenez to fix this glaring oversight and keep American kids safe from these despicable people.”

Representative Carlos Giménez introduced companion legislation today in the U.S. House of Representatives. U.S. Senator Ted Budd is an original cosponsor of the bill.

Senator Ted Budd said, “Those who prey on children represent the very worst of society. I am proud to join Senator Scott and my colleagues to ensure that State and DHS have access to critical NCMEC data to identify travelers and visa applicants in possession of illicit material exploiting children and prevent these criminals from entering the United States.”

Representative Carlos Giménez said, “The criminals who exploit innocent children online cannot be allowed to hide behind our borders or take advantage of gaps in our screening systems. The SCREEN Act gives the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State access to critical information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to help identify dangerous predators before they can enter or remain in our communities. I am proud to work with Senator Rick Scott to close this gap, protect our children, and keep dangerous predators out of our communities.”

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