22 USC 9721 - Additional restrictions on visas

View all text of Subchapter III [§ 9721 - § 9722]

§ 9721. Additional restrictions on visas

(a) In generalThe Secretary of State shall impose the visa restrictions described in subsection (c) on any foreign person who the Secretary determines—

(1) is a current or former senior official of the Maduro regime, or any foreign person acting on behalf of such regime, who is knowingly responsible for, complicit in, responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, or participating in (directly or indirectly) any activity in or in relation to Venezuela, on or after January 23, 2019, that significantly undermines or threatens the integrity of—

(A) the democratically-elected National Assembly of Venezuela; or

(B) the President of such National Assembly, while serving as Interim President of Venezuela, or the senior government officials under the supervision of such President;

(2) is the spouse or adult child of a foreign person described in paragraph (1); or

(3) is the spouse or adult child of 1

1 So in original. Probably should be followed by “a”.

Venezuelan person sanctioned under—

(A) section 5(a) of the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–278), as amended by section 163 of this title; 2

2 See References in Text note below.

(B)section 1903(b) of title 21; or

(b) Removal from visa revocation listPursuant to such procedures as the Secretary of State may establish to implement this section—

(1) if any person described in subsection (a)(1) recognizes and pledges support for the Interim President of Venezuela or a subsequent democratically elected government of Venezuela, that person and any family members of that person who were subject to visa restrictions pursuant to subsection (a)(2) shall no longer be subject to such visa restrictions; and

(2) if any person described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of subsection (a)(3) recognizes and pledges support for the Interim President of Venezuela or a subsequent democratically elected government of Venezuela, any family members of that person who were subject to visa restrictions pursuant to subsection (a)(3) shall no longer be subject to such visa restrictions.

(1) Visas, admission, or paroleAn alien described in subsection (a) 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.).

(2) Current visas revoked

(A) In general

(B) Immediate effectA 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.

(3) ExceptionsSanctions under paragraphs (1) and (2) 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.

(d) Rulemaking

(Pub. L. 116–94, div. J, title I, § 132, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3035.)