We hear a lot of heartbreaking stories from registrants and families. Some of the worst are when families are divided.
One of our members, who has a decades-old conviction, for which he got probation, left the country 17 years ago and hasn’t come back. He went on to live a good life in this other country, established a business, got married and had three children. In October, his mother fell gravely ill and he returned to see her. When he flew into the country (another state) he did what he was supposed to do and registered his one-week stay, letting them know he would be going home on November 7th.
Our country sent a “green notice” to the country he now (and for the past 17 years) lives, warning them of his arrival, flight information and registration flyer. Not surprisingly, the authorities were waiting for him and upon arrival he was immediately turned back. Unwilling to step foot in the US again, he’s currently exiled in a third country, unwilling to be subjected to a lifetime of persecution in the US and unable to return home to his family. He desperately misses them and they miss him.
Yesterday, one of the commenters on our site shared the sad result of their planned trip to Jamaica for their daughter’s wedding. She wrote:
ZAQ on April 4, 2018 at 10:18 pmThey turned us away! My husband will not be able to walk his daughter down the aisle in Jamaica or have the father daughter dance tomorrow.
After all the back and forth we decided to go and try. We all took flight together praying that my husband could talk to somebody we were with his daughter with the wedding dress and everything but NO.
We got sent on same plane.The minute we landed in Jamaica while on plane they made an announcement With my husbands name to meet airport staff at gate.
One thing they were polite and respectful. They allowed us to walk with my husband. They took him for a moment to another room. I was hopeful since they were being nice. But they told me before they told him that he’s going back to USA and asked if I was going with him.
I wasn’t going to stay with out him. He was destroyed.
They said USA regulation they put pressure and made agreement that they cannot allow anyone with this type of record even if it’s been almost 25 years level 2 or any.I’m so angry at the system! My husband has never had any other record. He took a plea when he was young didn’t know any better. He did make a mistake served 2 years.
I think they have to change something. If someone has gone so many years with out any offense, has gotten treatment, or evaluated they should be freed from this label.
What’s sad is I want to do something about it but i can’t expose my husband because he lives with this shame and fear!
It’s just messed up! They should tell you before you get on plane that this would happen!
We lost money, but most importantly we will miss thus very special wedding.
My step daughter and her fiancé were destroyed.
These stories are horrific! Imagine a daughter unable to have her father walk her down the isle. Not having her family with her on the most special day of her life!
Imagine a wife and small children not knowing when they will see their father again. A family without their bread winner. Stuck in limbo, potentially having to leave a home and business behind and start over in a new country.
It’s reminiscent of the pogroms in Eastern Europe or the persecutions in Syria. Only it’s the Unites States.
What a twisted, sadistic country we live in, that feels the need to torture the families of registrants! That is all the International Megan’s Law does – inflicts cruel and unusual punishment!
I tried to travel to Jamaica i was not allowed entry my offense happend when i was 12 years old i am now 37 my wife was born in Jamaica we had dreams of getting duel citizenship i can not afford a lawyer does anyone have any experience getting citizenship in a other country or petitioning a country for entry any info would be greatly appreciated
The real purpose of the IML is not to prevent child sex trafficking and sex tourism in what Representative Chris Smith claims because that task would be impossible to accomplish and the people that are doing these things are usually criminals from other countries that have not been caught, prosecuted and do these things on rare occasion. The real purpose of the IML is to ban registrants from international travel because they’re deemed by the media as “high risk offenders” and when they do the mandatory 21 day notice with the authorities, it gets them in the system for the feds to automatically take action of send alert notices out to destinations without letting registrants know what will happen when they arrive and are usually turned away and sent back home, and even if a country allows registrants in, that could change at anytime. They make it seem like they’re fighting crime globally with cooperation from many foreign government agencies around the world and expect to believe the IML will put the end of sex trafficking and sex tourism through advance notifications and new passport which will never work.
Let the professionals that work with the Megans law registrants do their job. The population of registrants that have lived in society (jails without walls) are not getting a chance to live their life by way of over regulations. when a crime and punishment are completed why must the registrant continue to be micromanaged and punished. The International law is a high paid babysitting service that impedes the pleasure of travel and family trips. Micro management of this population is getting to be criminal in its own right.
Is anything being done in any jurisdiction (Federal) to challenge IML?
Last I heard the ASCOL suit in US District Court in California decided that the State Department did not issue improper regulations regarding the International Megan’s Law even though the scope of the regulations exceeded that law. In doing so, the court relied upon another myth – that individuals convicted of a sex offense involving a minor are likely to engage in child sex tourism or child sex trafficking.
Now that so many travelers are being substantially harmed by the “identifier” in their passport, and in many instances, passports being revoked, isn’t this the time for a full frontal attack on this pernicious law?
My son joined me in the city of Fort Myers, He followed all the report serequirements of the visit. He was told to go to the station of the sheriffs department to sign in. He went to the first stations was told to wait 1 hour till the sheriff officer returned. He returned in one hour and was sent to another building on the other side of town. Once he was there he was told that this was not the right place go to another site 4 miles away, he was not able to report so he had to leave out of fear of being in violation. Cruel and harrassement.
ok
so he left the u.s. 17 years ago. he did not have to register in the other country?
he came back to visit for 7 days, and why would he have to register anywhere, he is visiting not moving back. why would he tell them when he is leaving and where? in my state you have 10 days to register if you move here, that is move, not visit. if you are not registered in the u.s. why are you reporting anything.
this makes no sense. anyone validate this story
Fort Myers is a City in Florida.
Florida law is you MUST register if you are visiting for more than5 days, .This holds true for visitors before June 30th (tomorrow).
After that the law changes effective July 1 to be 3 days. However, the new law is quite confusing as to what constitutes 3 days. One reading is that you must register within the first 48 hours.
This is the law, if caught one will not only be on the registry for life, but is subject to 6 months house arrest and GPS monitoring
Lee County registration office is on Six Mile Cypress that the correct place to register in Fort Myers Florida.
when we tried to visit fort myers we went to that site, they said someone would be back in a hour but we could go to another site went to the next site no one there knew what todo.
So here are some questions. If you are on a STATE registry, which most are, who are you required to report your travel to? If you are currently in Florida but move to say Vermont, Georgia, etc where you can either come off the registry automatically as a matter of law or can be removed by court order, are you still required to report your travel because you were convicted in Florida? I ask this in light of the fact Florida leaves you on their website even though according to them, you are not required to “maintain” your registration if you are not residing/working in Florida. In the case of a state like Vermont where you are never even required to report to the state if you qualify for the 10 year relief, who would or could tell the Feds that you were “not registered?”
No, Florida owns you and you WILL show up on the National Sex Offender registry regardless. Once on the Florida registry you are there for life!
If you would like to get your life back then I strongly suggest that you and all the others who think they can simply ignore Florida need to wake up!
Donate to the Out Of State legal fund to get off the list and get your life back – it is the ONLY way!
I did a little quick research. First let me say that victimization of any type is unacceptable, and I certainly am not trying to justify human trafficking. However, what I am trying to show is that there is absolutely NO justification for the IML. It is another feel good victimization of people that have already paid their debt (no such thing in reality). Just a note – I found few statistics on the relationship of RSOs to international travel for trafficking. A current report (June 2017) signed by Rex Tillerson cited that sex offenders travel overseas for sex trafficking along with (wait for it) national dignitaries (I wonder if their passports are marked?) and others. However, there are absolutely no references or statistics to back up those statements. There is mention on pg 419 that in 2016 10 registered sex offenders from the US (yes 10 out of a million) were arrested and convicted for overseas sex tourism/ trafficking. This was a booming increase from 3 the previous year! So that means all the tax payer dollars to implement IML had phenomenal results! Lol https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/271339.pdf
https://polarisproject.org/sites/default/files/us-citizen-sex-trafficking.pdf
This report on trafficking shows clearly that the vast majority of trafficking victims know their attacker (sound familiar?) – it also shows that the clear majority are for labor and not sex. In addition, the majority are adults and not minors.
https://freeholdarea-nj.aauw.net/files/2014/01/z-Human+Trafficking+Statistics.pdf
Although somewhat dated (and I am not sure of the bias of the Polaris Project) this report clearly shows a couple of things. One, that adult victims far out number minors. Also, the ratio of sex victims versus labor victims is 1:9! Clearly more labor victims than sexual ones.
I ask myself what exactly do they (USA) want? They do not want us here! They do not want us there! So what exactly do they want? A pound of flesh? In my opinion they already have that and more! Just let us pay our debt to society and live! If we break the law again then punish us but other than that let us go! What exactly is the justification?? Does it not occur to them that the US citizens that have been caught for overseas trafficking (anyone have statistics?) were NOT on the public hit list?
No statistics on U.S. citizens trafficking in humans overseas not even one arrest for such The author’s of IML simply pressed the so called need for this law based on the fact registrants possed passports and used them to travel out of the country. The theory is what else could a sex offender be using a passport for illegal sexual activity in other countries. They also worry about registrants Absconding and choosing not to come back to this oppressive draconian revenge filled so called democracy sending a green notice isn’t enough they stamp your mark of shame where it surely won’t be missed. Does anyone know what a green notice actually says I’m curious as to what kind of monsters they portray us to be to the rest of the world
A common thread I have noticed when countries have turned folks away, is they are claiming that the USA has requested they NOT be allowed entry into the subject country. This seems to extend way beyond the scope of even a green notice, which doesn’t say such things, from what I gather.
That IS correct.
When I was turned away from entering Argentina I was told in no uncertain terms that I had all the required paperwork to enter Argentina legally, however, the United States was requesting that they not allow me and to return me.
I was told that once I got this straightened out with the US government that I was welcome once again to enter Argentina.
Thank you Uncle Sam for holding me hostage!
I had exactly the same thing happen going to Costa Rica even though had been many times before. They said fix the issue with USA and come back. Due to a Medical issue and change of plans last minute I did go back and suprise no problems. This is clearly the issue of the advanced notice.
I had exactly the same thing happen going to Costa Rica even though had been many times before. They said fix the issue with USA and come back. Due to a Medical issue and change of plans last minute I did go back and suprise no problems. This is clearly the issue of the advanced notice. Don’t forget Argentina no longer allows Felons entry but I believe you are fine without the notice. You could always try a different country first that way you won’t have to fly back so far. Ferry or land crossing is available to BuenosAires
The US Marshalls office sends notice when they are notified by a state of an RSO’s intended international travel. That much I have gathered from them. Determining whether the IML applies to all registrants, and who is on the Angel Watch List is another issue. Also, finding out exactly what is encoded in passports is something they seem to want to hide. Gestapo’esque for sure. Seems like we should have full disclosure of these issues as potentially affected citizens
I can’t vouch for them, since I’ve never used the product. But, I would be interested in whether anyone has ever used something like the READID app (https://www.readid.com) that uses an NFC-type cell phone to scan the passport chip. It’s apparently a valid, cheap cell phone app that works with phones with NFC (near field communication) ability. I wonder if that app would reveal anything ‘hidden’ within the passport. If I had a passport currently, I would give it a try. If anyone has tried this out, please share your experience. Thanks.
RE:
Booking#: 8W1MG3
Dear Guest/Travel Partner,
We are sorry that your reservation has cancelled. If your cancellation occurred during penalty period the amount will
be listed below: Booking Ref: 8W1MG3 CARNIVAL GLORY
05/21/2016
Guest Names “Removed” Cancellation Date: 02/11/2016
Penalty Assessed: USD 0.00
A refund of the taxes, fees and port expenses will be processed to the original form of payment within 10-14 business days.
We hope you will once again consider Carnival when making future vacation plans.
Sincerely,
Carnival Cruise Lines
The wife and I loved to cruise and in fact are/were platinum members with more than 100 sea days on Carnival. The first sign of trouble was on our return to the Port of Miami May 2015, for the first time ever I was flagged CBP. In November of 2015 we booked another cruise for May 2016. In February I received the above letter.
When I called to inquire about this I was informed that it wasn’t Carnivals choice rather they receive notice from Various Countries in the Caribbean, Mexico and Honduras etc, they would not allow too port any ship with a RSO on board.
100 sea days never an issue. She did apologize and thanked me for being such a loyal customer over the years.
I had head about Carnival, and Royal Caribbean. Anyone have an experience with another cruise line? I read that Princess doesn’t care and am planning a cruise with my wife on that line. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to use my current passport (with no “identifier”).
Norwegian has been OK too
i see many of these stories and worse so why are they not being used to overturn the registry/iml?
they were both based on not being a punishment and its very clear to anyone with half a brain that thats exactly what it is
double jeopardy getting punished twice for one crime
how are the judges not seeing this?
punished from living in certain areas
punished from getting jobs
punished from being targeted and humiliated when people make a big deal of you being on the list where you live
getting arrested because you are homeless because you have no where to live due to the laws past keeping you away from any part of society
i dont understand how an intelligent attorney cant take all that we go through and show the judges of the world that the registry and iml are just the opposite of what they thought it was
We are still in prison the only difference is the Rec Yard is bigger but still being held as prisoners by our own government
Ladies and gentlemen you’re still not getting it. RSOs are the guinea pigs the US and other nations are beta testing for being registered and treated like this. Eventually the US and the entire world will be one giant prison planet where anyone and everyone who goes against the govt will be harassed, exiled, and or registered to some degree. Right now, it’s us. Slowly but surely right wingers, conspiracy theorists, Christians, etc will be added to a registry as well and tracked or even imprisoned. It’s a small step to a bigger agenda. It’s evil and nefarious to the core. I can’t stand this country and any form of government and have absolutely no intention of following it’s stupid laws unless notvdoing so causes major inconvenience for me such as not showing up to register or something like that. But if I travel from state to state no mattr how long the duration, I’m not doing shit. I’m going and enjoying myself. Now the thing is just don’t travel overseas until they repeal IML. But I’m telling you now, it’s not happening. Read the book of revelation. It’s here. We should feel honored. We’re the first to get picked on lol.
I’ve been thinking the book of Revelation for a long, long time.
Back in the early 1980’s, I was working in a nursing station and the subject of computers came up. Work was slow that evening so we got into a conversation about computers. I said, “The day will come when computers will rule the world.” OMG, you should’ve heard it, the head nurse threw such a fit at me saying that! Then all of the nurses immediately got up and left the room, it was horrible! She said, you wouldn’t say that if you believed in God. I said, I believe in God and that’s why I say that, read Revelations! The antichrist might not be human, but it doesn’t matter if human or not, its going to be computers that will control every human life.
I almost got fired over that, it was a religious hospital, so much so that they said prayers before the shift started. Today it’s a huge hospital! I give them credit for knowing nothing about computers, but I had listened to a prophesy, a dream that a man had about this and now I see that things are happening to the world almost exactly the way he said they would. Sometimes I wonder if any of those nurses remember that conversation.
Oh the number of the beast – 666 – Great Iron Maiden song but that’s about it – nothing mystic or supernatural here.
This is just government controlling their populations 101. The technology has just allowed great abuse than ever before.
Fun times ahead…I am glad I lived the vast majority of life (and the best years) without this invasive bullshit!
I feel like there is a due process complaint against either IML, the Stare Department, or the Marshall Service over the use of an InterPol Green Notice.
The specific complaint would be that the government is alleging a citizen is “likely to commit a crime” in the destination country based solely on a conviction in their past and nothing else. A suit on this specific issue would allow us to submit the whole body of research about RSO recidivism, and would ideally use a plantiff such as this (or anyone with at least 17 years since their offense) who have surpassed all study lengths without reofending.
I know it’s often the first thought to challenge these laws on their face, but sometimes you get just as much benefit simply breaking their teeth.
All4ConSoLaws.org has filed a suit on procedural grounds, but we’ll take relief any way we can get it.
i was wondering how does this effect you if you have not been convicted but are required to register? I took a first offender plea.
If you never lost your voting rights it doesn’t.
May God help us all
Amen!
Having experiencing the disappointment, humiliation and financial loss of personally being turned back from Argentina (where I had previously lived for 6 consecutive years) after a trip back to the states I can tell you that there is nothing as devastating as building a life outside the US (and enjoying the freedom that allows) and then once again having the bloody claws of the US tear into you again.
I was told upon my attempt to reenter Argentina that all of my paperwork for them was perfectly fine however, the USA was requesting that I NOT be allowed in and returned to the USA.
This after 20 years of being totally crime free (not even a parking ticket) and after living out of the US for 6 years! I wish I had never returned as I had thought (foolishly) that I would not have any problems…well, should have known better!
I can tell you that the registry and IML are BOTH cruel, unusual, and totally unnecessary PUNISHMENTS!
The whole idea they use as a basis for the registry is “to protect the victims”…how are victims being protected in these situations? Its just destroying families and lives. For what?
There are legitimate reasons people travel that have NOTHING to do with sex trafficking, child molesting or raping. I’ll bet that 99.9% of these individuals travel for business, family reasons, or even just for pleasure. If they are on probation they are required to get permission to travel and if they are off probation, there’s no reason they should be prevented from traveling.
Family member’s don’t give 21 days notice before medical emergencies and it’s impossible to do business or plan when you don’t know if you’ll be turned around as soon as you arrive. When you’re in a position where you have to chose between rushing to a loved ones hospital bedside or going to prison for failing to give 21 day’s notice, it’s a horrible choice to make.
This is supposed to be a Christian country, not anymore. Where is the forgiveness. There is none. No matter what the lawmakers try to say this is punishment of the cruelest kind. Being under constant stress of what is going to happen next. Is some vigilante going to show up to kill someone, am I sure that all of the rules are followed, did I forget something. It is very depressing.
Sadly, this is our reality. In the first case, the gentleman had 17 years to seek citizenship or asylum or whatever in the country he’d been living in, but apparently failed to. And in the second case they KNEW Jamaica was turning away registrants and decided to try anyway, knowing full well what the results would be (and admitted so in the thread) then complained she didn’t know ahead of time. Both situations were avoidable. Yes, the system is unjust, but in most cases it is predictable. We can’t say we didn’t know when all the facts were in plain sight for everyone to see.
Anonymous – it’s not always so easy. Good luck getting citizenship anywhere with a sex offense and although they knew there was a likelihood they would be denied entry, you can’t blame a father for trying!
In the first case he could have written off his ailing mother and stayed out of the US and in the second case he could have compelled his daughter to get married in the US, but is that fair to a sick mother or the daughter? That’s the point here.
It’s like the other current event – the father who couldn’t visit his 9 year old son in the hospital. Sure, he could have searched for a hospital that will allow him to visit or not gotten his kid treatment altogether, but seriously, wtf?
In the first case I sincerely hope the US registrant is able to transit back to his new haven via a third country, as green notices only apply to trips originated from the USA. Hopefully his passport isn’t somehow permanently flagged and he can somehow make his way home, and this will be a lesson to be more proactive in seeking new permanent status elsewhere.
Both happily and Sadly, I’m in Florida for at least the next 15 years as I have shared custody with an ex spouse and I have small children. I hope that things will change in those years and that also in those years my travels to Europe will not be hindered, as I hope to seek refuge there once my children are grown.
Fortunately, the judge in my family court case saw fit to allow me shared custody (despite my ex attempting to use my status against me, even though my case predated our relationship) and my children’s schools have been very fair with me regarding my status and allowing me to be a part of their campus lives.
Hopefully, those successfully living as a RC outside our borders will seek permanent status somewhere else and take nothing for granted.