22 U.S.C. § 9753: Countering Russian influence…

Summary

Requires the Secretary of State to send a report to two Congressional committees within 120 days after December 20, 2019. The report must assess Russian security cooperation with Venezuela, say how that cooperation could threaten the United States and other countries in the Western Hemisphere, and give a plan to counter those threats. "Appropriate congressional committees" means the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Bars people who the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or their delegate) knows or reasonably believes are acting for the Russian government in direct support of Maduro’s security forces from entering the United States. Those people cannot get visas or travel papers, and any existing visas or entry documents can be revoked immediately and will automatically cancel other valid visas. The ban does not apply if admitting the person is needed to follow the UN Headquarters Agreement (signed June 26, 1947; in force November 21, 1947) or to help U.S. law enforcement. The President can waive the ban for national security reasons but must notify and explain the waiver to the two committees. These entry rules end one year after December 20, 2019.

Title 22, §9753

Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Short title

This section may be cited as the “Russian-Venezuelan Threat Mitigation Act”.

(b)Threat assessment and strategy to counter Russian influence in Venezuela

(1)Defined term

In this subsection, the term “appropriate congressional committees” means—

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

(B)the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.

(2)Threat assessment

Not later than 120 days after December 20, 2019, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees regarding—

(A)an assessment of Russian-Venezuelan security cooperation;

(B)the potential threat such cooperation poses to the United States and countries in the Western Hemisphere; and

(C)a strategy to counter threats identified in subparagraphs (A) and (B).

(c)Aliens ineligible for visas, admission, or parole

(1)Aliens described

An alien described in this paragraph is an alien who the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or a designee of either Secretary) knows, or has reason to believe, is acting or has acted on behalf of the Government of Russia in direct support of the security forces of the Maduro regime.

(2)Visas, admission, or parole

An alien described in paragraph (1) is—

(A)inadmissible to the United States;

(B)ineligible to receive a visa or other documentation to enter the United States; and

(C)otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into the United States or to receive any benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).

(3)Current visas revoked

(A)In general

An alien described in paragraph (1) is subject to revocation of any visa or other entry documentation regardless of when the visa or other entry documentation is or was issued.

(B)Immediate effect

A revocation under subparagraph (A) shall—

(i)take effect immediately; and

(ii)automatically cancel any other valid visa or entry documentation that is in the alien’s possession.

(4)Exceptions

Sanctions under paragraphs (2) and (3) shall not apply with respect to an alien if admitting or paroling the alien into the United States is necessary—

(A)to permit the United States to comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United States, or other applicable international obligations; or

(B)to carry out or assist law enforcement activity in the United States.

(5)National security

The President may waive the application of this subsection with respect to an alien if the President—

(A)determines that such a waiver is in the national interest of the United States; and

(B)submits a notice of, and justification for, such waiver to the appropriate congressional committees.

(6)Sunset

This subsection shall terminate on the date that is 1 year after December 20, 2019.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Immigration and Nationality Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(C), is act June 27, 1952, ch. 477, 66 Stat. 163, which is classified principally to chapter 12 (§ 1101 et seq.) of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1101 of Title 8 and Tables.

§9753 Countering Russian Influence in Venezuela