8 U.S.C. § 1772 — International cooperation

This section requires a joint study of possible international electronic data networks for immigration and security screening. It also requires a report to Congress within one year after May 14, 2002.

(a) International electronic data system. The Secretary of State and the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization, after consulting the Assistant to the President^* for Homeland Security, must jointly study alternative approaches for encouraging or requiring Canada, Mexico, and countries treated as visa waiver program countries under section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to develop an intergovernmental network of interoperable electronic data systems. The study must cover the costs and procedures needed for each alternative.

The network must do all of the following:

(1) It must provide real-time access to that country's law-enforcement and intelligence information that the Department of State and the Immigration and Naturalization Service need to screen visa applicants and people seeking admission to the United States. The access must help identify aliens who are inadmissible or deportable under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

(2) It must work with the electronic data system implemented under section 1722 of this title.

(3) It must operate in accordance with the technology standard referred to in section 1722(a) of this title.

(b) Report. No later than one year after May 14, 2002, the Secretary of State and the Attorney General must submit a report to the appropriate committees of Congress^*. The report must state the findings of the study under subsection (a).