§2339D Receiving Military-type Training From a Foreign Terrorist Organization

Summary

It is a crime to knowingly get military-style training from a group the Secretary of State has officially listed as a foreign terrorist organization. A person who does this can be fined under federal law, imprisoned for up to 10 years, or both. To be guilty, the person must know the group is officially labeled a terrorist group or that the group has carried out terrorist acts. Federal law can apply even if the training happened outside the United States. Jurisdiction exists if the offender is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, a stateless person who normally lives in the U.S., is brought into or found in the U.S. after the conduct, the offense happens partly or fully in the U.S., it affects interstate or foreign commerce, or the person helps or conspires with someone who falls into one of those categories. Defined terms (one line each): “military-type training” — training in ways to kill, cause serious injury, damage property, disrupt critical systems, or make/use weapons or explosives; “serious bodily injury” — the legal meaning given elsewhere; “critical infrastructure” — systems vital to national defense, security, the economy, public health, or safety (for example, power, water, transport, banking, and emergency services); “foreign terrorist organization” — a group designated under the Immigration and Nationality Act.