H.R. 4202 — Protect Honduran Democracy Act

This section expresses the sense of Congress that (1) the 2025 election process in Honduras raises serious concerns about fairness, including irregularities in the March 2025 primary election, violence against candidates, and human rights violations by security and defense forces under the ongoing state of emergency; (2) the United States should support efforts to ensure free and fair elections on November 30, 2025; and (3) the Armed Forces of Honduras and relevant institutions should respect their constitutional roles and protect the democratic process.

This section directs the Secretary of State to establish a strategy to promote free and fair elections in Honduras on November 30, 2025. The strategy must include support for election monitoring by credible international bodies (e.g., Organization of American States, European Union, United Nations) and civil society observers to (1) protect candidates from harassment, undue legal persecution, or misuse of state resources; (2) prevent misuse of state resources to influence voters; (3) avoid violence and intimidation by transnational criminal organizations, gangs, political parties, or proxies; (4) guarantee freedom of speech and assembly; and (5) ensure transparent transmission of results.

This section authorizes the President, acting through the Secretary of State, to provide grant assistance to nongovernmental organizations for activities (1) to monitor the national elections in Honduras scheduled for November 30, 2025, and (2) to assess the extent to which those elections are free and fair.

This section directs the President to deny visas to, exclude from the United States, and revoke visas pursuant to INA §221(i) (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)) of any alien determined to have (1) unduly prevented or ordered the prevention of any candidate or prospective candidate from participating in the Honduran general elections on November 30, 2025; (2) knowingly materially assisted, sponsored, or provided significant support for such prevention; or (3) carried out acts of intimidation or harassment, including spurious legal actions, against candidates, election officials, or observers. Exceptions apply to aliens already subject to equivalent sanctions or whose admission is necessary to comply with the UN Headquarters Agreement or other international obligations. The President may waive sanctions if determined to be in the national interest, with prior notification and justification to the Senate Committees on Foreign Relations and Appropriations and the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Appropriations, and shall issue necessary regulations to implement the section.

This section encourages the Secretary of State to promote the ability of citizens of Honduras residing in the United States to vote in Honduras's general elections on November 30, 2025.

This section states the sense of Congress that the President should continue coordinating with other countries, particularly Central American countries, a comprehensive multilateral strategy to further the purposes of this Act, including encouraging similar measures with respect to Honduras.

This section authorizes appropriations of $1,000,000 for each of FY2026 and FY2027 to carry out the Act. Amounts appropriated pursuant to this authorization remain available until expended.