Member Submission: IML and travel to the Bahamas
(Decided to share this story in hope it might keep somebody else from the humiliation i experienced with my family and add to your travel site data base )
Unfortunately i found out the hard way about International Megan’s Law while traveling to Bahamas on a family/birthday vacation.
Since i had traveled to the Bahamas multiple times before the law was enacted and did not have to register under IML until 2017, I was totally blindsided when i was ushered into a small room, advised they had received notification from Interpol and the US marshals service as to be on alert to my flight and party and traveling as a rso . All they cared about if i was in fact a rso–nothing about the charges being over 20 years old and my legal papers showing i was removed in my home state–or the fact i had traveled throughout the Bahamas for years after my conviction and actually lived in Grand Bahama for 3 months.
I was summarily separated from my family and promptly ushered back on the plane back to Miami– I barely had time to give my fiancee (she knows of my background and status) my credit cards and cash to continue with the trip without me. She had to cry and beg for the hotel to honor our reservations since the cc were all in my name and the touted fishing trip had to be cancelled.
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If you register anywhere, for any offense, minor or adult victim, notification of travel is being forwarded and you will be denied entry.
You need to be free and clear of all state registries, and free from the Angel Watch List, which they will confirm for you:
Mr. ,
The Angel Watch Center has verified that your previous conviction for a sex offense did not involve a victim that was a minor, therefore, you are not subject to the passport marking provision of International Megan’s Law. The Angel Watch Center has not notified the Department of State that you are required to have the IML endorsement in your passport. If you believe that there is an issue with your previous or current U.S. passport we recommend that you contact the Department of State Passport Office directly.
Regards,
The Angel Watch Center
I am confused. The Angel Watch Center letter (which I assume you copied from an email) said your passport is good and doesn’t need IML endorsement. So what’s the problem(s) you experienced? Can you please explain in detail? Were you denied entry into a country? If so, which country (or countries)? Did you give the 21 day notice?
Thanks,
R.
Perhaps this will help: https://floridaactioncommittee.org/a-deeper-dive-into-iml/
Actually that link made it more confusing, lol. I am curious on this person’s problems since he didn’t have to get a new passport identifier under IML. Has anyone who doesn’t need to get a new passport (i.e., not a case involving a minor), have any issues entering any foreign countries, not limited to Caribbean countries. That’s what I am trying to find out.
Question
is IML retroactive?
what about the person whom was released yrs ago before IML
Yes
I dont think if you no longer register in any state that it applies per the email from Angelwatch. I could be wrong tho.
I had a passport prior to IML which I had somehow misplaced when I moved to a different city in my home state of CT. When IML was implemented, I never received any notice that I had to turn in my passport for a new one with the stamp.
Anyway, I have been off the registry since June 2018 and since I could not find my passport, I applied for a new one which I received today and it has NO “s.o.” indicator on it anywhere.
I’m also now living in FL, but if anything happens that forces me to have to register all over again – I’m leaving this state. But not without taking them to court first for not honoring that fulfillment of my punishment from my original state.
I’ve heard Nevada doesn’t make former registrants re-register. Anyone know of any other states that don’t?
Personally Maestro get the hell out of Florida
you never know if a neighbor decides to run a search on you and put it up your A$$ by sending demand letters to FDLE or push your information to the governor for an action
1000s of letters to the governor asking to get off reg.will never happen
100 letters with the right information will possibility put you on as there is proof of past offense,
I think many people here will say the same thing if your no longer a member of the club in your home state dont come to Florida you may end up with the automatic Renewal
there is a lot more to this story as it was done to me
luck was on my side friend in sheriffs office let me in on it
I got out of Floridah less then a week.
FAC
[email protected]
Thu, Jan 9, 6:02 PM (12 hours ago)
to me
IML is retroactive in that it applies to all registrants. If you no longer have to register,
then you are no longer a registrant and are not required to abide by IML/
As for your friend, his passport will not be marked and they should not send an alert.
However, he still must give travel notification. So India should treat him as
any US citizen
Yes. Mexico. The Angel watch center is not the only source of notification to other countries. The US Marshalls will still notify other countries of travelling registrants with or without minor victims.
After that, yo are not getting in. There are a few exceptions to that, Aruba may be one, but they are getting fewer as time passes.
Bottom line: if you have a minor offense, you are not travelling abroad anymore. If you have an adult offense and are registered, probably the same.
No legal challenges to be filed as the US is simply communicating truth about convictions. Most countries have policies regarding allowing criminals into their country, and when we are flagged by the US prior, its like shooting ducks in a barrel for them.
No matter if you have a minor offense or not, if you are no required to register or removed from it in all places, you would be allowed to travel.
I have to register and I was sentenced under a diversion program where the case was dismissed, record sealed, and no conviction. However for purposes of Sora, my state still requires registration. The legislatures are working to pass a new law for those in my situation who have no conviction, but still required to register ( they finally get that it makes no sense to do that). If and once I’m removed, I doubt the Marshall’s office or angel watch would be sending anything. It’s not the same as registering until your time runs out (25 years etc). Here, my legislators are changing the law period.
That being said, this is which I have not, and will not get a passport until I am removed. Seems like once you are Angel Watch system, especially if they sent notice to another country about you, it could be that much harder. I would just rather be patient and not travel abroad right now until either I’m removed, or until IML is defeated.
It would suck to be on a plane wondering the ‘entire 14 hour flight,’ if you are going to be sent back. Not putting myself thru that. Too much embarrassnent as these recent stories have shared.
Does your case involve a minor?
Not sure how much of a financial impact it is now but I use to spend about $4,000 a year on International travel. If all people on the registry and their families can no longer go together, most families won’t travel alone without Dad, especially in a foreign country, that could cause at least a slight dip in revenue.
Jack
I can say it does have impact on the country I spent 60k plus pr yr, I lived there 7 yrs built a home there
expats of all nations spend Big money to live there as I did , now with Pres.Dirty of the Philippines hes planning to ensure all Americans have a visa Before entry this will destroy the phils economy 7000 us veterans reside there alone how much more of other expats, yes It will have a devastating Impact
No, not according to Paul at RTAG. If your case doesn’t involve a minor, all you have to do is give 21 day notification. Angel Watch should not be transmitting it to anyone.
Rocky
though im some cases a person not required to have a stamp in the passport, cause their offense didn’t involve a minor
the 21 day notice is the sleuth box to catch the rest.
(of the loopholes)
Need proof of this sleuth box. Not conjecture.
If you are registered the US Marshall’s are still notifying and being denied entry should be expected
M
your right either way Minor or Adult offense,
stamp or not, if your registered Person 21 day notice is the catch all,
you go 21 days in advance to report your destination
in turn the sheriffs dept/LE transmits your travel plans to the US marshals /state Dept of intent to travel
and whom do they report it to ? Angel Watch Center for action green notices sent out from Interpol
we can be armchair quarterbacks and argue of the plays but the fact remains this ball is in the governments court and we are carrying the penalty as a registered Person minor or adult offense
21 day notices are there to keep registered persons (on notice In check) that they are a POWs of the unconstitutional Registry and til the day it is #abolished it will remain that way.
and for those who think my offense is on an adult I’m exempt, go travel to the country if you happen to be allowed in Awesome! keep your A$$ there never come back if you can afford it,
if you go there get stopped at point of entry be prepared for shame humiliation disgust anger 1000s of hard earned money gone, no recourse to get that money back the only thing you have managed to do is earn the knowledge that traveling out of country is over.
I’m no longer a member but still multitudes of collateral damage after the Registry we are not free
Any proof because according to Paul at RTAG you are wrong? Please provide proof that this is happening to people with no mark on their passport.
Rock
we discussed earlier and I cant divulge a Reg persons name he has my full respect of privacy
but what i can say he was blacklisted in 2016 from Philippines he notified 21 days in advance his offence was a date rape trump up charge I know well I read his reports ADULT offence
since November of 2019 he was released and want to move on with his life Im helping him now get back into the Philippines its going to be a long Journey But I’ve done this before with another person and including myself in December 2013 and back in April of 2014 use your letter of release proof of a marriage and I told his wife to by property and get sign agreement of his co- ownership of land
I don’t need his name. I need proof that he has an adult case and was denied entry because it contradicts Paul’s info. There is too much fake information being spread online. Hence, we need a reference, news article, letter, evidence, etc., to show that US Marshalls and Angel Watch are not following the rules.
rocky
adult or a offense against a minor they send green notices OK
they dont claim your offense is for a child or an adult their main focus on destroying a persons life, it letting the country know you are a reg,Person its part of IML
US Marshall’s and Angel Watch are the entries that send green notices its there Job. and why are they sending these notices?
it all started with the 21 day notice to your local sheriffs dept do you see a check mark box to claim adult offense or offense with a minor? possible the issue starts there,
stamp or not, adult or not granted no matter what you have been told from tag.
it still happens and will keep happening, you can have all the proof in hand to prove what is happening but for the fact our government is going to claim the country of destination has a right to refuse a RP for any reason. thusfore your SOL on any kind of lawsuit
and FYI find this Blog this green notice was accidentally left in the RPs paperwork when he was deported yes Adult offense do you see anywhere it says he had adult offense?
NO just a RSO/a registered SO ….it is an IML notice
#experienced on January 9, 2020 at 9:24 am
Int’l Mess on January 9, 2020 at 1:08 pm
This letter is not intended to cause a hold departure order on the subject,it is only provided for us in assessing eligibility for admission
If other Posters on this page would like to Jump in and correct me if im wrong please do..
I think he’s saying, a person he knows who committed a crime against an adult, was denied entry into a country. That’s that country’s prerogative. What proof do you need?
If you are subject to an Interpol green notice, some countries may deny you entry, regardless of whether there is a mark on your passport.
Thank you Jacob!
rock wants proof in hand, proof he will never get, and this country will NEVER admit to wrong doing the way the green notices are written its to inform that a RP is in route its up to the other country to make that decision
In or out.
HongKong
same guy I know has been there 8x he is RP IML sent green notices they pull him in ask questions and allowed him in every time cause his wife from the Philippines arrived there ahead of him
until IML and the registry is #abolished we have to just suck it up.
I don’t think you are understanding my post. There is a contradiction between RTAG (Paul) and someone on here about whether SOs with adult cases are being denied entry into foreign countries. Whenever there is a contradiction of information, you try to collect more evidence to see what is true and what is false. I need evidence of SOs with adult cases being denied entry into a foreign country.
Rocky – This site is not a source for legal opinions. FAC is not a law firm, we do not have lawyers on staff and the individuals responding to your questions are providing anecdotal information based on past information and belief.
The IML, as all registration laws, are complex and not uniformly applied. While IML is a Federal Law that should apply nationwide, some states’ laws vary in application and some states are not AWA Compliant and if you are not required to register in their state and show up to report international travel, they might be confused or their state agency might not report it to the US Marshals in which case no green notice is sent. There are also other registration laws aside from IML which might come into play. These are all “mights” – if you ask whether Federal law authorizes the sending of travel notifications for persons on the registry regardless of whether their offense was against a minor:
Travel notifications are sent by the Angel Watch Center pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 21503(f) AND the National Sex Offender Targeting Center pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 21504(a)(1) (formerly 42 U.S.C. § 16935c(a)(1)). The Angel Watch Center is limited in its ability to make notifications of foreign travel to cases where a person is registered on the basis of an offense against a minor, the National Sex Offender Targeting Center is not.
I hope that answer satisfies you and we can move on from this topic. As complex as the laws are for attorneys and law enforcement officers to understand, they are even more confusing for the “regular” person. You seem frustrated because you are not getting the specifics you are looking for, but unfortunately the only person who can do the research and draft an opinion for your situation is someone who is qualified to do the research and licensed to provide the opinion. If you are having a legal issue related to international travel for which you need actual legal guidance, we have a list of lawyers on our referral page.
Paul did NOT say, did he, that no one who committed a crime against an adult had any problem at any border crossing. Not even the Registrant Travel Matrix goes that far.
It partly depends on the receiving country and what their policies are. We know from RTAG that some countries, for example, admit hardly any former felons at all.
All we can say is that if someone was denied due to a past crime against an ADULT, then it was not the doing of International Megan’s Law but some other law or policy (or combination thereof).
thank you Jacob for clearing up the matter.
not to be a smart A$$ but here is the real travel notification
Dear sir,Per our previous discussions,the information to follow is provided for your use,as you deem appropriate.This letter is not intended to cause a hold departure order on the subject,it is only provided for us in assessing eligibility for admission to the republic of the Philippines._____________an American citizen and convicted felon and RSO is reported to be possibly enroute to the Philippines.The Us immigration and customs enforcement (ICE),Homeland security Investigations(HSI),Manila Philippines,was notified that______a registered SO departed the US bound for the Philippines.It is believed ______may pose a a potential risk for the community abroad.This message is to inform your office of the possible presence of _____in the Philippines.If you have any questions regarding this notification,please do not hesitate to contact me (ICE contact number).
If FAC decides to go forward with any lawsuits based on being denied entry into a country and then sent back (when entry was gained the year before), I’d be more than happy to be one of the John Doe CRR (Citizen Required to Register) on the lawsuit. It was embarrassing, humiliating, inhumane, and traumatizing for my wife and I. I’m sure you could fill up the court room with CRR’s and similar stories to go with. Let’s fight this IML garbage with real life occurrences. They’re existing now and we have the numbers.
Add me to that list as well…
Maybe a really good attorney; someone of Janice Belluci’s caliber would know of a vulnerability that would make it open to a good federal lawsuit.
I have been (and constantly am) thinking about any angle to attack this problem. The overriding issue is the ruling that the Supreme Court has deemed the registration process “not cruel and unusual punishment”. Given that ruling it would take another SC ruling to overturn that stance, which was unfortunately made on bad data.
That being said however, I’m wondering if the travel restrictions that we are currently experiencing could be deemed cruel and unusual – ie: prisoners in our own land. It really chafes my hide that they send letters to the receiving countries basically outlining us as all boogiemen without any other justification for something we did 10, 20, 30 (gad) 40 years ago…
So not all registered people have crimes involving a minor. For those who don’t, what have been your experiences with your passport and traveling internationally?
I don’t know what your charges were. Although I feel your pain. The government obviously has NO LEGAL right to use any after time served for you as you served you time and that is what the system calls for. Before 1900 time served meant you always get your rights back, regardless of the crime. Obviously, that is the way it is suppose to be according to the constitution. Unfortunately, these self appointed dictators have their system and that is all they care about. Convincing the public that all ex-felons are extremely dangerous when they are released and don’t deserve their rights back???? What? Our forefathers never intended for this to occur and case and point a man earned his rights back by serving time. The life appointed crooked politicians who should be in jail themselves for various crimes and misdemeanors are never convicted or serve much time even if it is a serious felony. Just like the so-cops who are hired to serve the political agenda at the time. They are ruthless and derive most of their arrested from paid informants while they take the credit. They could care less if the person of interest is a low degree potential felon.
Since the child predatory registry was implemented their has been no reduction is a crime due to a child predator laws. It is just a matter of harrassment and keeping ones rights away from him. Obviously, America is NOT america anymore. It has been sold out to the highest bidder and the politicians who have their own agenda working they say for joe public, which could be father from the truth. The law enforcers do what they want when they want without fear from the public.. We are suppose to fear them now or else. They are the dirtiest players of all in the game. Just look at any Youtube video on police misconduct and you will see for yourself. It is completely out of hand And needs the public’s attention before we all become victims. They hire ex war vets with mental disabilites and that’s the way they like it. They take precedent over over any other hire. Gee, go figure. They are sociopaths, psychos and extremely dangerous people Cross them and you will end up dead at their hand without any recorse to stop them or or without a high powered expensive attorney who knows the judges you do not stand a chance against them and they know it. the have unlimited resources thanks to the taxpayers. They are liars, killers and absolute the opposite of what they say.. Gee, the last time I tried to call a cop for attempted home invasion it took them 27 minutes to respond.. REally?? Sad but true. When they got there the guy was hiding in my laundry who in the back of the house. believe it or not they let him go, buying his story that he was only looking for protection from people chasing him… Bullshit, a simple deduction ruled that story out and anyway the guy walked and I could not even bring the police department to help me with filing a trespassing complaint against him…NO such luck,,it was my fault. Remember now I cannot legally protect myself from harms way whatever that may be and was only armed with a baseball bat and a few dull knives. Thanks politicians! You can damn well bet that they will make sure their body guards have every weapon know to man to protect the worthless imposiles…
thanks for reading
And shame on all these foreign countries for following the U.S in making registry laws. Almost all these nations had laws that allowed ex felons to rebuild their lives before the U.S started the Scarlet letter campaign of the registries which have only gotten more and more strict.
Then each thing they add seems to be done retroactively with very little if anything to be done to fight it since the courts seem to be 90% of the time on the side of registries, even when applied as retroactively.