H.R. 4531: Barring Adversarial Networks and Notorious Extremist Destabilizers in Latin America Act

This bill, known as the "Barring Adversarial Networks and Notorious Extremist Destabilizers in Latin America Act" or the "BANNED in Latin America Act," aims to establish a strategy to counter the influence of Iran and Hezbollah in Latin America. Here are the main components of the bill:

1. Strategy Requirement

The bill mandates that within 180 days of its enactment, the Secretary of State must create and submit a comprehensive strategy to specific congressional committees. This strategy will address the actions taken by Iran and Hezbollah in Latin America.

2. Contents of the Strategy

The strategy outlined in the bill must include the following elements:

• Addressing Iranian Cultural Centers: Measures to manage the activities of Iranian cultural centers in Latin America that promote Iranian ideology. This may involve diplomatic actions, sanctions against related entities, and efforts to publicly reveal their activities.
• Restricting Iranian Emissaries: Actions aimed at limiting the travel and operations of Iranian diplomats and affiliates who promote propaganda and facilitate radicalization through visa denials, sanctions, or other travel restrictions.
• Strengthening Intelligence Capacity: Initiatives to enhance the ability of U.S. intelligence agencies to identify, monitor, and disrupt networks associated with Iran and Hezbollah. This includes evaluating their links with academic institutions and non-governmental organizations in Latin America.
• Disrupting Media Platforms: A framework for actions similar to those used against certain media outlets, targeting Iran’s HispanTV and Hezbollah’s Al Mayadeen Espanol. This may involve sanctions and cooperation with regional partners to reduce their broadcasting influence and digital presence.
• Addressing Educational Networks: A plan for managing the activities of Iran’s Al Mustafa International University and its affiliated entities, including the potential designation of these organizations as foreign terrorist entities due to their role in radicalization efforts.

3. Form of the Strategy

The strategy must be delivered in an unclassified format, though it may have a classified annex included for sensitive information.

4. Definition of Appropriate Congressional Committees

The term "appropriate congressional committees" specified in the bill refers to:

• The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
• The Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.

Relevant Companies

None found.