§2339B — Title 18 Crimes and Criminal Procedure | U.S. Code

Summary

It is a crime to knowingly give material help or resources to a foreign group that the U.S. has officially labeled a terrorist organization. A person who does this, or tries or plans to do it, can be fined or sent to prison for up to 20 years. If someone dies because of the help, the person can be imprisoned for any number of years or for life. Banks that find they hold money that a terrorist group or its agent has an interest in must keep control of those funds and tell the Treasury Secretary as the Secretary’s rules require, unless the Secretary allows otherwise. A bank that knowingly fails to do this can be fined the greater of $50,000 per violation or twice the amount it was supposed to hold. The Attorney General can ask a federal court to stop conduct that appears to break these rules. The law applies to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, stateless people who live in the U.S., crimes that happen in the U.S. or affect U.S. commerce, people brought into the U.S. after committing the conduct, and to people who help or conspire with someone under those rules. The Attorney General handles investigations and works with the Treasury Secretary on bank cases. In civil cases, courts may let the government redact or summarize classified information and use special procedures to protect secrets, and the government may appeal some orders quickly (pretrial appeals by 14 days; appeals during trial with argument and decision within 4 days). Short definitions: “classified information”—as that term is used in the Classified Information Procedures Act; “financial institution”—as in federal law about banks; “funds”—money and other negotiable items and their electronic forms; “material support or resources”—as defined elsewhere and includes things like training and expert advice; “Secretary”—the Treasury Secretary; “terrorist organization”—an organization officially designated under the Immigration and Nationality Act. A person cannot be prosecuted for providing “personnel” unless they knowingly gave one or more people to work under the group’s direction or to manage it; people who act on their own to support the group are not treated as working under its control. The law does not limit First Amendment rights. The Secretary of State, with the Attorney General’s agreement, may approve certain support or resources, but may not approve anything that could be used to carry out terrorist activity.

Title 18, §2339B

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)Whoever knowingly provides material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization, or attempts or conspires to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both, and, if the death of any person results, shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life. To violate this paragraph, a person must have knowledge that the organization is a designated terrorist organization (as defined in subsection (g)(6)), that the organization has engaged or engages in terrorist activity (as defined in section 212(a)(3)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act), or that the organization has engaged or engages in terrorism (as defined in section 140(d)(2) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989).

(2)Except as authorized by the Secretary, any financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of, or control over, any funds in which a foreign terrorist organization, or its agent, has an interest, shall—

(A)retain possession of, or maintain control over, such funds; and

(B)report to the Secretary the existence of such funds in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary.

(b)Any financial institution that knowingly fails to comply with subsection (a)(2) shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount that is the greater of—

(A)$50,000 per violation; or

(B)twice the amount of which the financial institution was required under subsection (a)(2) to retain possession or control.

(c)Whenever it appears to the Secretary or the Attorney General that any person is engaged in, or is about to engage in, any act that constitutes, or would constitute, a violation of this section, the Attorney General may initiate civil action in a district court of the United States to enjoin such violation.

(d)(1)There is jurisdiction over an offense under subsection (a) if—

(A)an offender is a national of the United States (as defined in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22))) or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States (as defined in section 101(a)(20) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20)));

(B)an offender is a stateless person whose habitual residence is in the United States;

(C)after the conduct required for the offense occurs an offender is brought into or found in the United States, even if the conduct required for the offense occurs outside the United States;

(D)the offense occurs in whole or in part within the United States;

(E)the offense occurs in or affects interstate or foreign commerce; or

(F)an offender aids or abets any person over whom jurisdiction exists under this paragraph in committing an offense under subsection (a) or conspires with any person over whom jurisdiction exists under this paragraph to commit an offense under subsection (a).

(2)There is extraterritorial Federal jurisdiction over an offense under this section.

(e)(1)The Attorney General shall conduct any investigation of a possible violation of this section, or of any license, order, or regulation issued pursuant to this section.

(2)The Attorney General shall work in coordination with the Secretary in investigations relating to—

(A)the compliance or noncompliance by a financial institution with the requirements of subsection (a)(2); and

(B)civil penalty proceedings authorized under subsection (b).

(3)Any evidence of a criminal violation of this section arising in the course of an investigation by the Secretary or any other Federal agency shall be referred immediately to the Attorney General for further investigation. The Attorney General shall timely notify the Secretary of any action taken on referrals from the Secretary, and may refer investigations to the Secretary for remedial licensing or civil penalty action.

(f)(1)(A)In any civil proceeding under this section, upon request made ex parte and in writing by the United States, a court, upon a sufficient showing, may authorize the United States to—

(i)redact specified items of classified information from documents to be introduced into evidence or made available to the defendant through discovery under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure;

(ii)substitute a summary of the information for such classified documents; or

(iii)substitute a statement admitting relevant facts that the classified information would tend to prove.

(B)If the court enters an order granting a request under this paragraph, the entire text of the documents to which the request relates shall be sealed and preserved in the records of the court to be made available to the appellate court in the event of an appeal.

(C)If the court enters an order denying a request of the United States under this paragraph, the United States may take an immediate, interlocutory appeal in accordance with paragraph (5). For purposes of such an appeal, the entire text of the documents to which the request relates, together with any transcripts of arguments made ex parte to the court in connection therewith, shall be maintained under seal and delivered to the appellate court.

(2)(A)To prevent unnecessary or inadvertent disclosure of classified information in a civil proceeding brought by the United States under this section, the United States may petition the court ex parte to admit, in lieu of classified writings, recordings, or photographs, one or more of the following:

(i)Copies of items from which classified information has been redacted.

(ii)Stipulations admitting relevant facts that specific classified information would tend to prove.

(iii)A declassified summary of the specific classified information.

(B)The court shall grant a request under this paragraph if the court finds that the redacted item, stipulation, or summary is sufficient to allow the defendant to prepare a defense.

(3)(A)During the examination of a witness in any civil proceeding brought by the United States under this subsection, the United States may object to any question or line of inquiry that may require the witness to disclose classified information not previously found to be admissible.

(B)In determining whether a response is admissible, the court shall take precautions to guard against the compromise of any classified information, including—

(i)permitting the United States to provide the court, ex parte, with a proffer of the witness’s response to the question or line of inquiry; and

(ii)requiring the defendant to provide the court with a proffer of the nature of the information that the defendant seeks to elicit.

(C)In any civil proceeding under this section, it shall be the defendant’s obligation to establish the relevance and materiality of any classified information sought to be introduced.

(4)If the court enters an order denying a request of the United States under this subsection, the United States may take an immediate interlocutory appeal in accordance with paragraph (5).

(5)(A)An interlocutory appeal by the United States shall lie to a court of appeals from a decision or order of a district court—

(i)authorizing the disclosure of classified information;

(ii)imposing sanctions for nondisclosure of classified information; or

(iii)refusing a protective order sought by the United States to prevent the disclosure of classified information.

(B)(i)An appeal taken pursuant to this paragraph, either before or during trial, shall be expedited by the court of appeals.

(ii)If an appeal is of an order made prior to trial, an appeal shall be taken not later than 14 days after the decision or order appealed from, and the trial shall not commence until the appeal is resolved.

(iii)If an appeal is taken during trial, the trial court shall adjourn the trial until the appeal is resolved, and the court of appeals—

(I)shall hear argument on such appeal not later than 4 days after the adjournment of the trial, excluding intermediate weekends and holidays;

(II)may dispense with written briefs other than the supporting materials previously submitted to the trial court;

(III)shall render its decision not later than 4 days after argument on appeal, excluding intermediate weekends and holidays; and

(IV)may dispense with the issuance of a written opinion in rendering its decision.

(C)An interlocutory appeal and decision shall not affect the right of the defendant, in a subsequent appeal from a final judgment, to claim as error reversal by the trial court on remand of a ruling appealed from during trial.

(6)Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the United States from seeking protective orders or asserting privileges ordinarily available to the United States to protect against the disclosure of classified information, including the invocation of the military and State secrets privilege.

(g)As used in this section—

(1)the term “classified information” has the meaning given that term in section 1(a) of the Classified Information Procedures Act (18 U.S.C. App.);

(2)the term “financial institution” has the same meaning as in section 5312(a)(2) of title 31, United States Code;

(3)the term “funds” includes coin or currency of the United States or any other country, traveler’s checks, personal checks, bank checks, money orders, stocks, bonds, debentures, drafts, letters of credit, any other negotiable instrument, and any electronic representation of any of the foregoing;

(4)the term “material support or resources” has the same meaning given that term in section 2339A (including the definitions of “training” and “expert advice or assistance” in that section);

(5)the term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Treasury; and

(6)the term “terrorist organization” means an organization designated as a terrorist organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

(h)No person may be prosecuted under this section in connection with the term “personnel” unless that person has knowingly provided, attempted to provide, or conspired to provide a foreign terrorist organization with 1 or more individuals (who may be or include himself) to work under that terrorist organization’s direction or control or to organize, manage, supervise, or otherwise direct the operation of that organization. Individuals who act entirely independently of the foreign terrorist organization to advance its goals or objectives shall not be considered to be working under the foreign terrorist organization’s direction and control.

(i)Nothing in this section shall be construed or applied so as to abridge the exercise of rights guaranteed under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

(j)No person may be prosecuted under this section in connection with the term “personnel”, “training”, or “expert advice or assistance” if the provision of that material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization was approved by the Secretary of State with the concurrence of the Attorney General. The Secretary of State may not approve the provision of any material support that may be used to carry out terrorist activity (as defined in section 212(a)(3)(B)(iii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act).

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

References in Text

section 212(a)(3)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1) and (j), is classified to section 1182(a)(3)(B) of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality. section 140(d)(2) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is classified to section 2656f(d)(2) of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, referred to in subsec. (f)(1)(A)(i), are set out in the Appendix to Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure. section 1(a) of the Classified Information Procedures Act, referred to in subsec. (g)(1), is section 1(a) of Pub. L. 95–456, which is set out in the Appendix to this title. section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, referred to in subsec. (g)(6), is classified to section 1189 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2015—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 114–23 substituted “20 years” for “15 years”. 2009—Subsec. (f)(5)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 111–16, § 3(6), substituted “14 days” for “10 days”. Subsec. (f)(5)(B)(iii)(I). Pub. L. 111–16, § 3(7), inserted “, excluding intermediate weekends and holidays” after “trial”. Subsec. (f)(5)(B)(iii)(III). Pub. L. 111–16, § 3(8), inserted “, excluding intermediate weekends and holidays” after “appeal”. 2004—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 108–458, § 6603(c), struck out “, within the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States,” after “Whoever” and inserted at end “To violate this paragraph, a person must have knowledge that the organization is a designated terrorist organization (as defined in subsection (g)(6)), that the organization has engaged or engages in terrorist activity (as defined in section 212(a)(3)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act), or that the organization has engaged or engages in terrorism (as defined in section 140(d)(2) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989).” Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 108–458, § 6603(d), designated existing provisions as par. (2), inserted par. (2) heading, and added par. (1). Subsec. (g)(4). Pub. L. 108–458, § 6603(e), amended par. (4) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (4) read as follows: “the term ‘material support or resources’ has the same meaning as in section 2339A;”. Subsecs. (h) to (j). Pub. L. 108–458, § 6603(f), added subsecs. (h) to (j). 2001—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 107–56 substituted “15 years, or both, and, if the death of any person results, shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life” for “10 years, or both”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2009 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 111–16 effective Dec. 1, 2009, see section 7 of Pub. L. 111–16, set out as a note under section 109 of Title 11, Bankruptcy. Findings and Purpose Pub. L. 104–132, title III, § 301, Apr. 24, 1996, 110 Stat. 1247, provided that: “(a) Findings.—The Congress finds that—“(1) international terrorism is a serious and deadly problem that threatens the vital interests of the United States; “(2) the Constitution confers upon Congress the power to punish crimes against the law of nations and to carry out the treaty obligations of the United States, and therefore Congress may by law impose penalties relating to the provision of material support to foreign organizations engaged in terrorist activity; “(3) the power of the United States over immigration and naturalization permits the exclusion from the United States of persons belonging to international terrorist organizations; “(4) international terrorism affects the interstate and foreign commerce of the United States by harming international trade and market stability, and limiting international travel by United States citizens as well as foreign visitors to the United States; “(5) international cooperation is required for an effective response to terrorism, as demonstrated by the numerous multilateral conventions in force providing universal prosecutive jurisdiction over persons involved in a variety of terrorist acts, including hostage taking, murder of an internationally protected person, and aircraft piracy and sabotage; “(6) some foreign terrorist organizations, acting through affiliated groups or individuals, raise significant funds within the United States, or use the United States as a conduit for the receipt of funds raised in other nations; and “(7) foreign organizations that engage in terrorist activity are so tainted by their criminal conduct that any contribution to such an organization facilitates that conduct. “(b) Purpose.—The purpose of this subtitle [subtitle A (§§ 301–303) of title III of Pub. L. 104–132, enacting this section and section 1189 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality] is to provide the Federal Government the fullest possible basis, consistent with the Constitution, to prevent persons within the United States, or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, from providing material support or resources to foreign organizations that engage in terrorist activities.”

§2339B Providing material support or resources to designated foreign terrorist organizations