---
kind: "section"
citation: "34 U.S.C. § 21503"
title: "34"
title_heading: "Crime Control and Law Enforcement"
number: "21503"
heading: "Angel Watch Center"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/34/21503"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Protection of Children and Other Persons"
  - "Chapter 215 — Advanced Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders"
---

# §21503. Angel Watch Center

- (a) **Establishment—** Not later than 90 days after February 8, 2016, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish within the [Child Exploitation](/usc/34/21101.md?p=1) Investigations Unit of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement a [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1), to be known as the “Angel Watch [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1)”, to carry out the activities specified in [subsection (e)](#e).
- (b) **Incoming notification—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) may receive incoming notifications concerning individuals seeking to enter the United States who have committed offenses of a sexual nature.
  - (2) **Notification—** Upon receiving an incoming notification under [paragraph (1)](#b-1), the [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) shall—
    - (A) immediately share all information received relating to the individual with the Department of Justice; and
    - (B) share all relevant information relating to the individual with other Federal, [State](/usc/34/21701.md?p=3), and local agencies and entities, as appropriate.
  - (3) **Collaboration—** The Secretary of Homeland Security shall collaborate with the Attorney General to establish a process for the receipt, dissemination, and categorization of information relating to individuals and specific offenses provided herein.
- (c) **Leadership—** The [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) shall be headed by the Assistant Secretary of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in collaboration with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of State.
- (d) **Members—** The [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) shall consist of the following:
  - (1) The Assistant Secretary of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
  - (2) The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
  - (3) Individuals who are designated as analysts in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
  - (4) Individuals who are designated as program managers in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
- (e) **Activities—**
  - (1) **In general—** In carrying out this section, the [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) shall, using all relevant databases, systems and sources of information, not later than 48 hours before scheduled departure, or as soon as practicable before scheduled departure—
    - (A) determine if individuals traveling abroad are listed on the [National Sex Offender Registry](/usc/34/21502.md?p=8);
    - (B) review the United States Marshals Service’s National [Sex Offender](/usc/34/21502.md?p=9) Targeting [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) case management system or other system that provides access to a list of individuals who have provided advanced notice of international travel to identify any individual who meets the criteria described in [subparagraph (A)](#e-1-A) and is not in a system reviewed pursuant to this subparagraph; and
    - (C) provide a list of individuals identified under [subparagraph (B)](#e-1-B) to the United States Marshals Service’s National [Sex Offender](/usc/34/21502.md?p=9) Targeting [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) to determine compliance with title I of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 ([42 U.S.C. 16901](/usc/42/16901.md) et seq.).[^1]
  - (2) **Provision of information to Center—** Twenty-four hours before the intended travel, or thereafter, not later than 72 hours after the intended travel, the United States Marshals Service’s National [Sex Offender](/usc/34/21502.md?p=9) Targeting [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) shall provide, to the Angel Watch [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1), information pertaining to any [sex offender](/usc/34/21502.md?p=9) described in [subparagraph (C)](#e-1-C) of paragraph (1).
  - (3) **Advance notice to destination country—**
    - (A) **In general—** The [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) may transmit relevant information to the [destination country](/usc/34/21502.md?p=4) about a [sex offender](/usc/34/21502.md?p=9) if—
      - (i) the individual is identified by a review conducted under [paragraph (1)(B)](#e-1-B) as having provided advanced notice of international travel; or
      - (ii) after completing the activities described in [paragraph (1)](#e-1), the [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) receives information pertaining to a [sex offender](/usc/34/21502.md?p=9) under [paragraph (2)](#e-2).
    - (B) **Exceptions—** The [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) may immediately transmit relevant information on a [sex offender](/usc/34/21502.md?p=9) to the [destination country](/usc/34/21502.md?p=4) if—
      - (i) the [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) becomes aware that a [sex offender](/usc/34/21502.md?p=9) is traveling outside of the United States within 24 hours of intended travel, and simultaneously completes the activities described in [paragraph (1)](#e-1); or
      - (ii) the [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) has not received a transmission pursuant to [paragraph (2)](#e-2), provided it is not more than 24 hours before the intended travel.
    - (C) **Corrections—** Upon receiving information that a notification sent by the [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) regarding an individual was inaccurate, the [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) shall immediately—
      - (i) send a notification of correction to the [destination country](/usc/34/21502.md?p=4) notified;
      - (ii) correct all data collected pursuant to [paragraph (6)](#e-6); and
      - (iii) if applicable, notify the Secretary of State for purposes of the passport review and marking processes described in [section 212b of title 22](/usc/22/212b.md).
    - (D) **Form—** The notification under this paragraph may be transmitted through such means as are determined appropriate by the [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1), including through U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement attaches.
  - (4) **Memorandum of Agreement—** Not later than 6 months after February 8, 2016, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Attorney General to facilitate the activities of the Angel Watch [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) in collaboration with the United States Marshals Service’s National [Sex Offender](/usc/34/21502.md?p=9) Targeting [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1), including the exchange of information, the sharing of personnel, access to information and databases in accordance with [paragraph (1)(B)](#e-1-B), and the establishment of a process to share notifications from the international community in accordance with [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1).
  - (5) **Passport application review—**
    - (A) **In general—** The [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) shall provide a written determination to the Department of State regarding the status of an individual as a [covered sex offender](/usc/34/21502.md?p=3) (as defined in [section 212b of title 22](/usc/22/212b.md)) when appropriate.
    - (B) **Effective date—** [Subparagraph (A)](#e-5-A) shall take effect upon certification by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Attorney General that the process developed and reported to the appropriate congressional committees under [section 21507 of this title](/usc/34/21507.md) has been successfully implemented.
  - (6) **Collection of data—** The [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) shall collect all relevant data, including—
    - (A) a record of each notification sent under [paragraph (3)](#e-3);
    - (B) the response of the [destination country](/usc/34/21502.md?p=4) to notifications under [paragraph (3)](#e-3), where available;
    - (C) any decision not to transmit a notification abroad, to the extent practicable;
    - (D) the number of transmissions made under subparagraphs [(A)](#e-3-A),[(B)](#e-3-B), and [(C)](#e-3-C) of paragraph (3) and the countries to which they are transmitted, respectively;
    - (E) whether the information was transmitted to the [destination country](/usc/34/21502.md?p=4) before scheduled commencement of [sex offender](/usc/34/21502.md?p=9) travel; and
    - (F) any other information deemed necessary and appropriate by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
  - (7) **Complaint review—**
    - (A) **In general—** The [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) shall—
      - (i) establish a mechanism to receive complaints from individuals affected by erroneous notifications under this section;
      - (ii) ensure that any complaint is promptly reviewed; and
      - (iii) in the case of a complaint that involves a notification sent by another Federal Government entity, notify the individual of the contact information for the appropriate entity and forward the complaint to the appropriate entity for prompt review and response pursuant to this section.
    - (B) **Response to complaints—** The [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) shall, as applicable—
      - (i) provide the individual with notification in writing that the individual was erroneously subjected to international notification;
      - (ii) take action to ensure that a notification or information regarding the individual is not erroneously transmitted to a [destination country](/usc/34/21502.md?p=4) in the future; and
      - (iii) submit an additional written notification to the individual explaining why a notification or information regarding the individual was erroneously transmitted to the [destination country](/usc/34/21502.md?p=4) and describing the actions that the [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) has taken or is taking under [clause (ii)](#e-7-B-ii).
    - (C) **Public awareness—** The [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) shall make publicly available information on how an individual may submit a complaint under this section.
    - (D) **Reporting requirement—** The Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit an annual report to the appropriate congressional committees (as defined in [section 21507 of this title](/usc/34/21507.md)) that includes—
      - (i) the number of instances in which a notification or information was erroneously transmitted to the [destination country](/usc/34/21502.md?p=4) of an individual under [paragraph (3)](#e-3); and
      - (ii) the actions taken to prevent similar errors from occurring in the future.
  - (8) **Annual review process—** The [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) shall establish, in coordination with the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, and [INTERPOL](/usc/34/21502.md?p=5), an annual review process to ensure that there is appropriate coordination and collaboration, including consistent procedures governing the activities authorized under this chapter, in carrying out this chapter.
  - (9) **Information required—** The [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) shall make available to the United States Marshals Service’s National [Sex Offender](/usc/34/21502.md?p=9) Targeting [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) information on travel by [sex offenders](/usc/34/21502.md?p=9) in a timely manner.
- (f) **Definition—** In this section, the term “[sex offender](/usc/34/21502.md?p=9)” means—
  - (1) a [covered sex offender](/usc/34/21502.md?p=3); or
  - (2) an individual required to register under the [sex offender](/usc/34/21502.md?p=9) registration program of any [jurisdiction](/usc/34/21502.md?p=6) or included in the [National Sex Offender Registry](/usc/34/21502.md?p=8), on the basis of an offense against a [minor](/usc/34/21101.md?p=3).

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 114–119, § 4, Feb. 8, 2016, 130 Stat. 17.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, referred to in subsec. (e)(1)(C), is Pub. L. 109–248, July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 587. Title I of the Act, known as the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, was classified principally to subchapter I (§ 16901 et seq.) of chapter 151 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification as subchapter I (§ 20901 et seq.) of chapter 209 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 2006 Act note set out under section 10101 of this title and Tables.

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (e)(8), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 114–119, Feb. 8, 2016, 130 Stat. 15, known as the International Megan’s Law to Prevent Child Exploitation and Other Sexual Crimes Through Advanced Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 2016 Act note set out under section 10101 of this title and Tables.

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 16935b of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.