S. 842 — No Hezbollah In Our Hemisphere Act

This section states congressional findings that (1) Iran and Hezbollah have expanded networks in Latin America with impunity; (2) Hezbollah lacks terrorist designations in most countries south of the Rio Grande except Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, and Paraguay; (3) such designations are needed to enable monitoring and prosecution; (4) Hezbollah receives support from regimes such as Venezuela's; and (5) its infrastructure and activities—including infiltration of criminal networks, money laundering, and smuggling—continue to grow in countries including Peru, Colombia, Chile, and the Tri-Border Area.

This section states the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State should pursue aggressive efforts against Iranian proxy networks in the Western Hemisphere, including by (1) demanding that governments end impunity for designated individuals and entities or face consequences described in this Act; (2) working with allies, potentially through forums such as the Financial Action Task Force, to greylist government entities that cooperate with Hezbollah; (3) engaging Latin American governments to ensure they have adequate legislative tools to investigate terrorist activities and combat terrorism financing; and (4) persuading Latin American allies to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization using Argentina's model as a blueprint.

This section defines the term "appropriate congressional committees" to mean (1) the Senate Committee on the Judiciary; (2) the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; (3) the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations; (4) the House Committee on the Judiciary; (5) the House Committee on Financial Services; and (6) the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

This section directs the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Homeland Security, Attorney General, and heads of other relevant federal agencies, to assess within 180 days of enactment whether any country, region, or jurisdiction in Latin America qualifies as a terrorist sanctuary (as defined in 22 U.S.C. 2656f(d)(4)) and submit the results to the appropriate congressional committees. In conducting the assessment, the Secretary must consider (1) the extent to which Hezbollah or any other foreign terrorist organization (as designated under 8 U.S.C. 1189(a)) operates freely, raises or transfers funds, recruits, or obtains safe haven in the area; (2) whether the host government has knowingly tolerated or failed to address terrorist activities after learning of them; and (3) any other relevant factors.

This section authorizes the President to impose visa-related sanctions on government officials of any foreign state, subdivision, or municipality designated as a terrorist sanctuary under section 5 of this Act—unless the official has taken significant, verifiable steps to end such activity or the jurisdiction no longer qualifies as a terrorist sanctuary under 22 U.S.C. 2656f(d)(4)—by rendering them inadmissible to the United States, ineligible for visas or other entry documentation, and subject to immediate revocation of any existing visas (which automatically cancels other valid entry documents in their possession). The Secretary of State must prescribe implementing regulations within 180 days of enactment, and the President must issue necessary regulations, licenses, or orders. Sanctions do not apply if admitting the individual furthers important law enforcement objectives or complies with the U.N. Headquarters Agreement or other U.S. international obligations. The President may waive sanctions on a case-by-case basis for up to 180 days per individual if vital to U.S. national security, or up to one year per jurisdiction if in the U.S. national interest, with reports to specified congressional committees at least 15 days prior (including justifications and, for renewals, activity assessments and conditions). Sanctions terminate upon presidential determination—with 15 days' prior notice to congressional committees—that the individual has ceased relevant activities, provided reliable future assurances, or that termination serves U.S. national security interests.