22 U.S.C. § 212a - U.S. Code - Unannotated Title 22. Foreign Relations and Intercourse § 212a. Restriction of passports for sex tourism

(A)In general

The Secretary of State shall not issue a passport or passport card to an individual who is convicted of a violation of section 2423 of Title 18 during the covered period if the individual used a passport or passport card or otherwise crossed an international border in committing the offense.

(B)Passport revocation

The Secretary of State shall revoke a passport or passport card previously issued to an individual described in subparagraph (A).

(A)Emergency and humanitarian situations

Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Secretary of State may issue a passport or passport card, in emergency circumstances or for humanitarian reasons, to an individual described in paragraph (1)(A).

(B)Limitation for return to United States

Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Secretary of State may, prior to revocation, limit a previously issued passport or passport card only for return travel to the United States, or may issue a limited passport or passport card that only permits return travel to the United States.

(A) the term “covered period” means the period beginning on the date on which an individual is convicted of a violation of section 2423 of Title 18 and ending on the later of--

(B) the term “imprisonment” means being confined in or otherwise restricted to a jail, prison, half-way house, treatment facility, or another institution, on a full or part-time basis, pursuant to the sentence imposed as the result of a criminal conviction.