22 U.S.C. § 6473a

Current through P.L. 118-106 (published on www.congress.gov on 10/04/2024)

Section 6473a - Designated persons list for particularly severe violations of religious freedom

(a) List

(1) In general

The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Ambassador at Large and in consultation with relevant government and nongovernment experts, shall establish and maintain a list of foreign individuals to whom a consular post has denied a visa on the grounds of particularly severe violations of religious freedom under section 1182(a)(2)(G) of title 8, or who are subject to financial sanctions or other measures for particularly severe violations of freedom religion.

(2) Reference

The list required under paragraph (1) shall be known as the "Designated Persons List for Particularly Severe Violations of Religious Freedom".

(b) Report

(1) In general

The Secretary of State shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that contains the list required under subsection (a), including, with respect to each foreign individual on the list-

(A) the name of the individual and a description of the particularly severe violation of religious freedom committed by the individual;

(B) the name of the country or other location in which such violation took place; and

(C) a description of the actions taken pursuant to this chapter or any other Act or Executive order in response to such violation.

(2) Submission and updates

The Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees-

(A) the initial report required under paragraph (1) not later than 180 days after December 16, 2016; and

(B) updates to the report every 180 days thereafter and as new information becomes available.

(3) Form

The report required under paragraph (1) should be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex.

(4) Definition

In this subsection, the term "appropriate congressional committees" means-

(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;

(B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;

(C) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate;

(D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives;

(E) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and

(F) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives.

22 U.S.C. § 6473a

Pub. L. 105-292, title VI, §605, as added Pub. L. 114-281, title V, §501(2), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1437.

EDITORIAL NOTES

REFERENCES IN TEXTThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (b)(1)(C), was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 105-292, 112 Stat. 2787, known as the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 6401 of this title and Tables.

PRIOR PROVISIONSA prior section 605 of Pub. L. 105-292 was renumbered section 606 and is classified to section 6474 of this title.

Ambassador at Large: The term "Ambassador at Large" means the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom appointed under section 6411(b) of this title.
appropriate congressional committees: The term "appropriate congressional committees" means-(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives; and(B) in the case of any determination made with respect to the taking of President1 action under paragraphs (9) through (15) of section 6445(a) of this title, the term includes the committees described in subparagraph (A) and, where appropriate, the Committee on Banking and Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.
particularly severe violations of religious freedom: The term "particularly severe violations of religious freedom" means systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom, including violations such as-(A) torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment;(B) prolonged detention without charges;(C) causing the disappearance of persons by the abduction or clandestine detention of those persons; or(D) other flagrant denial of the right to life, liberty, or the security of persons.