SAFE VISITS Act

Bill Number

H.R. 7427

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-06-24: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 28 - 2.

Last Updated

2026-07-09T13:27:22Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The SAFE VISITS Act (H.R. 7427) aims to enhance homeland security by requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to analyze threats from visiting foreign nationals and provide guidance to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments. This focuses on protecting these governments' officials, employees, information, facilities, programs, or systems from potential risks, including terrorism.

Key Provisions

• Threat Analyses and Guidance: DHS must submit an annual threat analysis to congressional committees (House Committee on Homeland Security and Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs) within 180 days of enactment and yearly thereafter. This analysis covers reported threats from foreign nationals seeking meetings with or access to local government resources, including potential terrorism risks. DHS must also share guidance with state, local, tribal, and territorial governments based on this analysis.
• Content Requirements: The analysis and guidance must include:
• Descriptions of high-risk targets (e.g., specific officials, facilities, or systems).
• Trends in foreign national visits, drawn from vetting requests submitted through fusion centers (regional hubs for sharing threat intelligence among law enforcement and government entities).
• Recommended actions to mitigate threats and protect local resources.
• Tailored Support for High-Risk Cases: If DHS identifies a high-risk target, it must:
• Conduct outreach to the affected government, providing relevant information (unclassified or classified at the lowest level needed).
• Assist with vetting the foreign national (e.g., background checks).
• Offer specific mitigation guidance for the visit.
• Request a debriefing from the host government within 30 days after the visit to learn about any access attempts or techniques used by the visitor.
• Reporting and Oversight: DHS must submit annual reports on its outreach and vetting activities, starting with the second threat analysis report.
• Research and Development: DHS must coordinate with its Under Secretary for Science and Technology to develop technologies that improve information sharing for implementing these requirements.
• Definitions: "Information" is defined as non-public data or materials held by state, local, tribal, or territorial governments.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 by adding a new section (210H) to Subtitle A of Title II, introducing mandatory threat analyses, guidance dissemination, and support mechanisms specifically for foreign national visits to subnational governments. It builds on existing fusion center operations but creates new DHS obligations for proactive outreach, vetting assistance, and post-visit debriefings. A clerical update adds the new section to the Act's table of contents.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: DHS will face increased workload for analyses, outreach, and reporting, potentially requiring more resources for coordination with fusion centers and local entities. State, local, tribal, and territorial governments gain tools and support to handle foreign visits more securely, reducing their vulnerability to threats like espionage or terrorism.
• On Citizens: Indirect benefits through enhanced protection of local government assets, which could safeguard public services and data. No direct impact on everyday citizens, but it may heighten scrutiny during foreign interactions at government levels.
• On International Relations: Could strain relations with foreign governments if vetting or restrictions on their nationals lead to diplomatic complaints, though it promotes transparency via shared guidance. It emphasizes U.S. security without broadly restricting travel.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Primary: Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its components (e.g., intelligence and science divisions).
• Secondary: State, local, tribal, and territorial government officials, employees, and agencies handling foreign visits or sensitive resources.
• Others: Foreign nationals seeking access to U.S. subnational governments; congressional oversight committees; fusion centers involved in intelligence sharing.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens federal-local coordination under homeland security laws without overriding state authority, as support is voluntary and advisory. The focus on "information" (non-public data) aligns with existing privacy protections but may require careful handling of classified materials to avoid leaks.
• Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; it supports the federal government's role in national security (e.g., under Article I, Section 8) while respecting state sovereignty by providing assistance rather than mandates.
• Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (introduced by Reps. Goldman and Thompson) highlights consensus on countering foreign threats. It could influence debates on immigration, espionage, and federal funding for local security, potentially expanding DHS's role in domestic intelligence without new surveillance powers.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]

Cosponsors (3)

Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Evans, Gabe [R-CO-8], Rep. Pou, Nellie [D-NJ-9]

Recent Actions

• 2026-06-24: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 28 - 2.
• 2026-06-24: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
• 2026-05-14: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
• 2026-05-14: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
• 2026-02-10: Referred to the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.
• 2026-02-09: Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2026-02-09: Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2026-02-09: Introduced in House
• 2026-02-09: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Securing Access from Foreign Entities Visiting Internal Sites in the States Act — issued 2026-02-09 — PDF (6 pages)