22 USC 10704 - Sanctions relating to the Western Balkans

U.S Code last checked for updates: Apr 09, 2026

§ 10704.

Sanctions relating to the Western Balkans

(a)

In general

(b)

Activities described

A foreign person engages in an activity described in this subsection if the foreign person has—

(1)

undertaken actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, stability, or territorial integrity of any area or state in the Western Balkans;

(2)

engaged or attempted to engage in actions or policies that undermine democratic processes or institutions in the Western Balkans;

(3)

engaged or attempted to engage in corruption related to the Western Balkans, including corruption by or on behalf of, a government in the Western Balkans, or a current or former government official in the Western Balkans;

(4)

engaged or attempting to engage in serious human rights abuses in the Western Balkans; or

(5)

engaged or attempted to engage in, acts that obstruct or threaten the implementation of any regional security, peace, cooperation, or mutual recognition agreement or framework or accountability mechanism related to the Western Balkans, including the Prespa Agreement of 2018; the Ohrid Framework Agreement of 2001; United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244; the Dayton Accords; or the Conclusions of the Peace Implementation Conference Council held in London in December 1995, including the decisions or conclusions of the High Representative, the Peace Implementation Council, or its Steering Board; or the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, or, with respect to the former Yugoslavia, the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.

(c)

Sanctions described

The sanctions described in this subsection are the following:

(1)

Blocking of property

(2)

Ineligibility for visas, admission, or parole

(A)

Visas, admission, or parole

An alien described in subsection (a) shall be—

(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 16 1

 So in original.

seq.).

(B)

Current visas revoked

(i)

In general

(ii)

Immediate effect

A revocation under clause (i) shall, in accordance with section 1201(i) of title 8—

(I)

take effect immediately; and

(II)

cancel any other valid visa or entry documentation that is in the possession of the alien.

(d)

Implementation; penalties

(1)

Implementation

(2)

Penalties

(e)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Agricultural commodity

(2)

Medical device

(3)

Medicine

(4)

Foreign person

(f)

Termination of sanctions

The President may terminate the application of a sanction imposed pursuant to this section with respect to a person if the President certifies to the appropriate committees of Congress that—

(1)

the person is not engaging in the activity that was the basis for such sanction or has taken significant verifiable steps toward stopping such activity; and

(2)

the President has received reliable assurances that the person will not knowingly engage in activity subject to such sanction in the future.

(g)

Waiver

(1)

In general

The President may waive the application of sanctions imposed pursuant to this section for renewable periods not to exceed 180 days if the President—

(A)

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

(B)

not less than 15 days before the granting of the waiver, submits to the appropriate committees of Congress a notice of and justification for the waiver.

(2)

Form

(h)

Exceptions

(1)

Humanitarian assistance

Sanctions authorized under this section shall not apply to—

(A)

the conduct or facilitation of a transaction for the provision of agricultural commodities, food, medicine, medical devices, humanitarian assistance, or for humanitarian purposes; or

(B)

transactions that are necessary for, or ordinarily incident to, the activities described in subparagraph (A).

(2)

Compliance with international obligations and law enforcement activities

Sanctions authorized under this section shall not apply with respect to an alien if admitting or paroling such alien is necessary—

(A)

to comply with United States obligations under—

(i)

the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947;

(ii)

the Convention on Consular Relations, done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered into force March 19, 1967; or

(iii)

any other international agreement; or

(B)

to carry out or assist law enforcement activity in the United States.

(3)

Exception for intelligence activities

Sanctions authorized under this section shall not apply to—

(A)

any activity subject to the reporting requirements under title V of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.); or

(B)

any authorized intelligence activities of the United States.

(4)

Exception relating to importation of goods

(A)

In general

(B)

Defined term

(i)

Rulemaking

(j)

Rules of construction

(1)

Nothing in this section may be construed to limit the authorities of the President under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).

(2)

Nothing in this section shall be construed to modify any sanctions in effect as of December 18, 2025.

(k)

Sunset

(Pub. L. 119–60, div. H, title LXXXIII, § 8335, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1867.)

cite as: 22 USC 10704