Title 22 — Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73
§2420 Police training prohibition
Title 22 › Chapter CHAPTER 32— - FOREIGN ASSISTANCE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS › Part Part III— - Miscellaneous Provisions › § 2420
Summary
Starting July 1, 1975, money provided under this chapter, and any local currency made from it, must not be used to train, advise, or give financial help to foreign police, prisons, other law enforcement, or to run internal intelligence or surveillance programs for foreign governments, either inside or outside the United States. There are specific exceptions. They cover certain crime-control programs under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act (section 515(c)), DEA or FBI work on crimes illegal under U.S. law, help allowed by section 2291a, contracts made before December 30, 1974, maritime law enforcement, police work tied to the Eastern Caribbean regional security system, sanctions monitoring and enforcement, rebuilding civilian police after conflict (including human-rights, rule-of-law, and anti-corruption training), and support for customs authorities. The ban also does not apply to a country that has a long democratic tradition, no standing armed forces, and no pattern of gross human-rights violations. Aid to Honduras or El Salvador for fiscal years 1986 and 1987 is allowed only if the President notifies the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate at least 30 days beforehand, following the reprogramming notice rules in section 2394–1, says the country has made significant progress in the prior six months in stopping abuses (including torture, incommunicado detention, detention for nonviolent political speech, or long detention without trial), and includes a full description of the proposed aid and its purpose.
Full Legal Text
Title 22, §2420
Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)On and after July 1, 1975, none of the funds made available to carry out this chapter, and none of the local currencies generated under this chapter, shall be used to provide training or advice, or provide any financial support, for police, prisons, or other law enforcement forces for any foreign government or any program of internal intelligence or surveillance on behalf of any foreign government within the United States or abroad.
(b)Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply—
(1)with respect to assistance rendered under section 515(c) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968,11 See References in Text note below. with respect to any authority of the Drug Enforcement Administration or the Federal Bureau of Investigation which relates to crimes of the nature which are unlawful under the laws of the United States, or with respect to assistance authorized under section 2291a of this title;
(2)to any contract entered into prior to December 30, 1974, with any person, organization, or agency of the United States Government to provide personnel to conduct, or assist in conducting, any such program;
(3)with respect to assistance, including training, in maritime law enforcement and other maritime skills;
(4)with respect to assistance provided to police forces in connection with their participation in the regional security system of the Eastern Caribbean states; or 22 So in original. The word “or” probably should appear at end of par. (6).
(5)with respect to assistance, including training, relating to sanctions monitoring and enforcement;
(6)with respect to assistance provided to reconstitute civilian police authority and capability in the post-conflict restoration of host nation infrastructure for the purposes of supporting a nation emerging from instability, and the provision of professional public safety training, to include training in internationally recognized standards of human rights, the rule of law, anti-corruption, and the promotion of civilian police roles that support democracy;
(7)with respect to assistance provided to customs authorities and personnel, including training, technical assistance and equipment, for customs law enforcement and the improvement of customs laws, systems and procedures.
(c)Subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to a country which has a longstanding democratic tradition, does not have standing armed forces, and does not engage in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.
(d)Notwithstanding the prohibition contained in subsection (a) assistance may be provided to Honduras or El Salvador for fiscal years 1986 and 1987 if, at least 30 days before providing assistance, the President notifies the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, in accordance with the procedures applicable to reprogramming notifications pursuant to section 2394–1 of this title, that he has determined that the government of the recipient country has made significant progress, during the preceding six months, in eliminating any human rights violations including torture, incommunicado detention, detention of persons solely for the nonviolent expression of their political views, or prolonged detention without trial. Any such notification shall include a full description of the assistance which is proposed to be provided and of the purposes to which it is to be directed.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 87–195, Sept. 4, 1961, 75 Stat. 424, known as the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 2151 of this title and Tables. section 515(c) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), is section 515(c) of title I of Pub. L. 90–351, June 19, 1968, 82 Stat. 207, which was formerly classified to section 3763(c) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. section 515 was omitted in the general revision of title I of Pub. L. 90–351 by Pub. L. 96–157, § 2, Dec. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 1167.
Amendments
1999—Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 106–113 added par. (7). 1996—Subsec. (b)(5), (6). Pub. L. 104–107 added pars. (5) and (6). 1990—Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 101–513, which directed the amendment of this section by adding par. (4) at “the end of the subsection”, was executed by adding par. (4) after par. (3) in subsec. (b) to reflect the probable intent of Congress. 1985—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 99–83, § 127(b), added par. (3). Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 99–83, § 711, added subsecs. (c) and (d).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1985 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 99–83 effective Oct. 1, 1985, see section 1301 of Pub. L. 99–83, set out as a note under section 2151–1 of this title. Exemption of Narcotics-Related Military Assistance for Specific Fiscal Years From Prohibition on Assistance for Law
Enforcement
Agencies Pub. L. 103–447, title I, § 104, Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4694, provided that: “(a) Exemption.—For fiscal year 1995, section 660 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2420) shall not apply with respect to—“(1) transfers of excess defense articles under section 517 of that Act (22 U.S.C. 2321k); “(2) funds made available for the ‘Foreign Military Financing Program’ under section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2763) that are used for assistance provided for narcotics-related purposes; or “(3) international military education and training under chapter 5 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2347 and following) that is provided for narcotics-related purposes. “(b) Notification to Congress.—At least 15 days before any transfer under subsection (a)(1) or any obligation of funds under subsection (a)(2) or (a)(3), the President shall notify the appropriate congressional committees (as defined in section 481(e) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2291(e))[)] in accordance with the procedures applicable to reprogramming notifications under section 634A of that Act (22 U.S.C. 2394) [22 U.S.C. 2394–1]. “(c) Coordination With International Narcotics Control Assistance Program.—Assistance provided pursuant to this section shall be coordinated with international narcotics control assistance under chapter 8 of part 1 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2291 et seq.).” Pub. L. 102–583, § 7, Nov. 2, 1992, 106 Stat. 4933, provided for exemption of narcotics-related military assistance for fiscal years 1993 and 1994 from prohibition on assistance for law
Enforcement
agencies, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–447, title I, § 103(a), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4693.
Executive Documents
Delegation of Functions For delegation of functions of President under this section, see Ex. Ord. No. 12163, Sept. 29, 1979, 44 F.R. 56673, as amended, set out as a note under section 2381 of this title. Assistance to Public Security Forces of El Salvador; Delegation of Functions Determination of President of the United States, No. 86–2, Oct. 29, 1985, 50 F.R. 48073, provided: Memorandum for the Honorable George P. Shultz, the Secretary of State Pursuant to section 660(d) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended [22 U.S.C. 2420(d)], I hereby determine that the Government of El Salvador has made significant progress, during the six month period preceding this determination, in eliminating any human rights violations including torture, incommunicado detention, detention of persons solely for the non-violent expression of their political views, or prolonged detention without trial. You are requested to report this determination to the Congress immediately, together with a full description of the assistance to be provided and of the purposes to which it is to be directed. None of the assistance so provided shall be furnished until 30 days after such a report has been made, as required by law. I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State authority to make such determinations and reports as called for in the future under section 660(d). This determination shall be published in the Federal Register. Ronald Reagan.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
22 U.S.C. § 2420
Title 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73