BANNED in Latin America Act

This bill tells the U.S. government to create a plan to push back against Iran and Hezbollah spreading influence and propaganda in Latin America. Within 180 days of becoming law, the Secretary of State must deliver a strategy that lays out how to limit activities like cultural centers promoting Iranian ideology, restrict travel by emissaries who support these networks, and work with partners to curb their TV and online channels aimed at Spanish-speaking audiences, such as HispanTV and Al Mayadeen Español. The plan also calls for stronger intelligence efforts to find and disrupt these networks and to consider sanctions or terror-related designations for groups linked to recruitment and radicalization, including the Al Mustafa International University network.

Key points:

• Who is affected: U.S. foreign policy and intelligence agencies, Latin American communities exposed to propaganda, and individuals or entities tied to Iranian or Hezbollah influence efforts.
• What changes: A required strategy may include visa denials, sanctions, limiting cultural centers’ operations, shrinking the reach of certain media platforms, and boosting monitoring and disruption of these networks.
• When: The strategy is due 180 days after the law takes effect; it will be public, with an option for a classified annex if needed.