International Megan’s Law: Cruel and Unusual Punishment
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!
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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!