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1 1 (September 1, 2023)

handle is hein.crs/govemsi0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service hnfrming the ,jgislative debate since 1914 Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) The Foreign Terrorist Organization List Congress has shown recurring interest in the administration of the State Department's FTO list and its application to groups that the U.S. government considers to be undertaking terrorism-related activities. At various times, Members or committees have expressed the desire to add suspected terrorist groups to the FTO list, designate drug cartels as an FTO, or revise legislation to allow other entities to be considered as an FTO. The State Department's Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT) is responsible for identifying entities for designation as an FTO. Prior to doing so, the Department is obligated to demonstrate that the entity in question engages in terrorist activity, as defined in Section 212 (a)(3)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 U.S.C. §1182(a)(3)(B)), or terrorism, as defined in Section 140(d)(2) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act (FRAA), Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989 (FRAA) (22 U.S.C. §2656f(d)(2)), or retains the capability and intent to engage in terrorist activity or terrorism. When assessing entities for possible designation, CT looks not only at the actual terrorist attacks that a group has carried out, but also at whether the group has engaged in planning and preparations for possible future acts of terrorism or retains the capability and intent to carry out such acts. Terrorist activity, as found in the INA, specifically focuses on many types of violent activities or terrorist support efforts that could affect U.S. security interests. This definition does not address the motivations or goals of the perpetrators of the attack. However, the second aspect of these criteria for FTO designation, terrorism, as provided in the FRAA, approaches the issue from the motivations of the aggressor and the targets of the violent activity. The FRAA defines terrorism as premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents. FTO Designation Criteria Entities placed on the FTO list are suspected of engaging in terrorism-related activities. By designating an entity as an FTO, the United States seeks to limit the group's financial, property, and travel interests. Per Section 219 of the INA, as amended via Section 302 of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, the Secretary of State must demonstrate that the entity of concern has met the three criteria to allow the Department to designate it as an FTO. The suspected terrorist group must * be a foreign organization, * engage in or retain the capability and intent to engage in terrorism, and * threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national defense, foreign relations, or the economic interests of the United States. Updated September 1, 2023 * It is unlawful for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide material support or resources to a designated FTO. * Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to, and in certain circumstances removable from, the United States. * The Secretary of the Treasury may require U.S. financial institutions possessing or controlling any assets of a designated FTO to block all transactions involving those assets. FTO designation further * supports U.S. efforts to curb terrorism financing and to encourage other nations to do the same; * stigmatizes and isolates designated terrorist organizations internationally; deters donations or contributions to and economic transactions with named organizations; * heightens public awareness and knowledge of terrorist organizations; and * signals to other governments U.S. concern about named organizations. FTO Revocation Process The INA sets out three possible bases for revoking an FTO designation: * The Secretary of State must revoke a designation if the Secretary finds that the circumstances that were the basis of the designation have changed in such a manner as to warrant a revocation. * The Secretary of State must revoke a designation if the Secretary finds that the national security of the United States warrants a revocation. * The Secretary of State may revoke a designation at any time. Since its inception, numerous entities have been placed on and removed from the FTO list. Found below is a list of the entities currently designated as FTOs and groups that have been delisted.

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