Sponsors (2)
The bill strengthens U.S. ability to identify and disrupt Hezbollah and other terrorist sanctuaries in Latin America through assessments, designations, visa bans and sanctions while trading off diplomatic relations, regional economic wellbeing, humanitarian/migration impacts, and some administrative and legal risks.
Residents of the U.S. and border communities: U.S. law enforcement and policymakers can prioritize counterterrorism cooperation with Latin American governments to disrupt Hezbollah and related networks operating in the hemisphere.
Federal policymakers and agencies: A coordinated, timely interagency assessment of 'terrorist sanctuary' risks in Latin America will improve intelligence-sharing, planning, and response across State, DNI, Treasury, DHS and DOJ.
Regional partners and U.S. justice efforts: Encouraging Latin American governments to adopt legal tools and designate terrorist groups enables sanctions, asset freezes, and prosecutions that can disrupt illicit financing and recruitment networks.
State and local governments, and broader bilateral ties: Pressuring and publicly labeling countries as terrorist sanctuaries risks straining diplomatic relations and complicating cooperation on trade, migration, and other shared priorities.
Ordinary Venezuelans, regional communities, U.S. businesses and consumers: Sanctions, designations, or other restrictions tied to these findings could harm local economies, disrupt trade/remittances, and increase costs for Americans.
Immigrants, diplomats, humanitarian actors, and law enforcement: Automatic visa cancellations and entry bans for officials from designated jurisdictions can impede legitimate diplomatic, humanitarian, family travel and can disrupt ongoing law‑enforcement or intelligence cooperation unless waivers are used.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Requires a U.S. interagency assessment of Latin American "terrorist sanctuaries" and authorizes visa/entry bans on officials of jurisdictions so designated, with a five-year sunset.
Introduced March 4, 2025 by John R. Curtis · Last progress March 4, 2025
Directs the Secretary of State, working with other federal agencies, to assess whether any country, region, or jurisdiction in Latin America functions as a "terrorist sanctuary" for Hezbollah or similar foreign terrorist organizations and report that assessment to Congress within 180 days. Authorizes the President to impose visa- and entry-related sanctions on government officials of jurisdictions determined to be terrorist sanctuaries, requires implementing regulations within 180 days, and sunsets those sanctions after five years. The bill also issues a non-binding Sense of Congress urging U.S. diplomacy to press Latin American governments to designate and act against Hezbollah and to coordinate with international partners on financial pressure and law-enforcement assistance.