22 USC 2277a - Targeted sanctions to fight corruption in El Salvador, Guatemala,,

U.S Code last checked for updates: May 08, 2024

§ 2277a.

Targeted sanctions to fight corruption in El Salvador, Guatemala,,1

 So in original.

Honduras, and Nicaragua

(a)

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that—

(1)

corruption in El Salvador, Guatemala,,¹ Honduras, and Nicaragua by private citizens and select officials in local, regional, and Federal governments significantly damages the economies of such countries and deprives citizens of opportunities;

(2)

corruption in El Salvador, Guatemala,,¹ Honduras, and Nicaragua is facilitated and carried out not only by private citizens and select officials from those countries but also in many instances by individuals from third countries; and

(3)

imposing targeted sanctions on individuals from throughout the world and particularly in the Western Hemisphere who are engaged in acts of significant corruption that impact El Salvador, Guatemala,,¹ Honduras, and Nicaragua or obstruction of investigations into such acts of corruption will benefit the citizens and governments of such countries.

(b)

Report required

Not later than 180 days after December 27, 2020, and not less frequently than annually thereafter, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an unclassified report with classified annex if necessary that identifies each foreign person who the President determines to have knowingly engaged in actions that undermine democratic processes or institutions, or in significant corruption or obstruction of investigations into such acts of corruption in El Salvador, Guatemala,,¹ Honduras, and Nicaragua, including the following:

(1)

Corruption related to government contracts.

(2)

Bribery and extortion.

(3)

The facilitation or transfer of the proceeds of corruption, including through money laundering.

(4)

Acts of violence, harassment, or intimidation directed at governmental and nongovernmental corruption investigators.

(c)

Imposition of sanctions

(d)

Sanctions described

(1)

In general

The sanctions described in this subsection are the following:

(A)

Ineligibility for visas and admission to the United States

In the case of a foreign person who is an individual, such foreign person is—

(i)

inadmissible to the United States;

(ii)

ineligible to receive a visa or other documentation to enter the United States; and

(iii)

otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into the United States or to receive any other benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).

(B)

Current visas revoked

(i)

In general

(ii)

Effect of revocation

A revocation under clause (i) shall—

(I)

take effect immediately; and

(II)

automatically cancel any other valid visa or entry documentation that is in the foreign person’s possession.

(2)

Exception to comply with international obligations

(e)

National security waiver

The President may waive the application of the sanctions under subsection (c) 3

 So in original. Probably should be “subsection (d)”.

if the President—

(1)

determines that such a waiver is in the national security interest of the United States; and

(2)

submits to the appropriate congressional committees within 15 days after such determination a notice of and justification for the waiver.

(f)

Termination

(g)

Public availability

(h)

Definitions

In this section, the term “appropriate congressional committees” means—

(1)

the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;

(2)

the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.

(Pub. L. 116–260, div. FF, title III, § 353, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 3129; Pub. L. 117–54, § 7, Nov. 10, 2021, 135 Stat. 418.)

cite as: 22 USC 2277a