§2712 — Title 22 Foreign Relations and Intercourse | U.S. Code

Summary

The Secretary of State can make rules to limit certain services when those services would help international terrorism. The covered services are: serving in or with the security forces of a designated foreign government, and giving training or technical help that has a direct military, police, or intelligence use to those security forces. The rules apply to anyone doing these things inside the United States and to United States persons doing them anywhere in the world. The Secretary can require licenses for the work and can cancel, suspend, or change licenses without prior notice. "Designated foreign government" means a foreign government the Secretary has found repeatedly supported international terrorism for purposes of section 4605(j)(1) of title 50. "Security forces" means military, paramilitary, police, law enforcement, or intelligence agencies. "United States" lists states, D.C., Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. territories. "United States person" means U.S. nationals, permanent residents, and businesses organized or based in the U.S. Knowingly breaking the rules can bring a fine up to $100,000 or five times the money earned from the act (whichever is greater), or up to 10 years in prison, or both. The Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury can investigate violations. The Secretary must send proposed rules to Congress at least 30 days before issuing them and must report to Congress at least every six months about licenses. This authority is in addition to other laws.

Title 22, §2712

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of State may, by regulation, impose controls on the provision of the services described in subsection (b) if the Secretary determines that provision of such services would aid and abet international terrorism.

(b)The services subject to control under subsection (a) are the following:

(1)Serving in or with the security forces of a designated foreign government.

(2)Providing training or other technical services having a direct military, law enforcement, or intelligence application, to or for the security forces of a designated foreign government.

(c)These services may be controlled under subsection (a) when they are provided within the United States by any individual or entity and when they are provided anywhere in the world by a United States person.

(d)In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of State may require licenses, which may be revoked, suspended, or amended, without prior notice, whenever such action is deemed to be advisable.

(e)(1)As used in this section, the term “designated foreign government” means a foreign government that the Secretary of State has determined, for purposes of section 4605(j)(1) 11 See References in Text note below. of title 50, has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism.

(2)As used in this section, the term “security forces” means any military or paramilitary forces, any police or other law enforcement agency (including any police or other law enforcement agency at the regional or local level), and any intelligence agency of a foreign government.

(3)As used in this section, the term “United States” includes any State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any territory or possession of the United States.

(4)As used in this section, the term “United States person” means any United States national, any permanent resident alien, and any sole proprietorship, partnership, company, association, or corporation organized under the laws of or having its principal place of business within the United States.

(f)(1)Whoever willfully violates any regulation issued under this section shall be fined not more than $100,000 or five times the total compensation received for the conduct which constitutes the violation, whichever is greater, or imprisoned for not more than ten years, or both, for each such offense.

(2)The Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury shall have authority to investigate violations of regulations issued under this section.

(g)(1)Not less than 30 days before issuing any regulations under this section (including any amendments thereto), the Secretary of State shall transmit the proposed regulations to the Congress.

(2)Not less than once every six months, the Secretary of State shall report to the Congress concerning the number and character of licenses granted and denied during the previous reporting period, and such other information as the Secretary may find to be relevant to the accomplishment of the objectives of this section.

(h)The authority granted by this section is in addition to the authorities granted by any other provision of law.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 4605(j)(1) of title 50, referred to in subsec. (e)(1), was repealed by Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title XVII, § 1766(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2232.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 40 of act Aug. 1, 1956, was renumbered section 41 by section 506(1) of Pub. L. 99–399, and subsequently renumbered, and set out as a

Short Title

of 1956 Amendment note under section 2651 of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 102–138, title I, § 111(1), Oct. 28, 1991, 105 Stat. 654.

§2712 Authority to Control Certain Terrorism-related Services