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1 1 (Updated September 13, 2024)

handle is hein.crs/goveqpx0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Venezuela: Overview of U.S. Sanctions Policy Since 2005, the United States has imposed targeted sanctions on Venezuelan individuals and entities that have engaged in criminal, antidemocratic, or corrupt actions. In response to increasing human rights abuses and corruption by the government of President NicolAs Maduro, in power since 2013, the Trump Administration expanded U.S. sanctions to include financial sanctions, sectoral sanctions, and sanctions on the government. After the Venezuelan opposition united to run against Maduro in the 2024 presidential election, the Biden Administration offered limited sanctions relief to incentivize the Maduro government to enable a free and fair electoral process. By April 2024, the Administration had rolled back most sanctions relief due to Maduro officials' antidemocratic actions, including barring opposition primary winner Maria Corina Machado from running. On July 28, 2024, Venezuela's National Electoral Commission claimed that Maduro won 51.2% of the vote, defeating the Unity Platform candidate Edmundo GonzAlez Urrutia, backed by Machado. These results contradict precinct-level voting tabulations published by the opposition, showing GonzAlez won by a wide margin. The U.S. government recognized GonzAlez as the winner on August 1. Maduro officials have enforced the election results they claim through harsh postelection repression of protesters, activists, and opposition leaders. After the attorney general issued an arrest warrant accusing GonzAlez of terrorism, GonzAlez fled into exile. In response, on September 12, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed financial sanctions on 16 Maduro officials for their role in either electoral fraud or repression. Some in Congress have called for additional sanctions. This product does not discuss foreign aid restrictions. Visa Restrictions Since FY2018, the State Department has imposed visa restrictions related to corruption or human rights abuses pursuant to Section 7031(c) of annual Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs appropriations acts on 14 Venezuelans. The State Department also has privately revoked the visas of nearly 2,000 Venezuelans, including those of Venezuelan officials and their families. Terrorism-Related Sanctions Since 2006, the Secretary of State has made an annual determination (most recently in May 2023) that Venezuela is not cooperating fully with United States anti-terrorism efforts pursuant to Section 40A of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. §2781). The United States has prohibited all U.S. commercial arms sales and retransfers to Venezuela In 2008, pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) Updated September 13, 2024 13224, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated two individuals and two travel agencies in Venezuela as Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs) subject to asset blocking sanctions for financially supporting Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. Export Controls U.S. Department of Commerce export controls related to Venezuela affect dual-use technology, including expanded restrictions since mid-2020 on sales to military or military- intelligence end users. Drug Trafficking-Related Sanctions Treasury has imposed asset blocking sanctions on 11 individuals and 25 companies with connections to Venezuela by designating them as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (P.L. 106-120, Title VIII, as amended; 21 U.S.C. §§1901 et seq.). Targeted Sanctions Related to Antdemocratic Actions, Human Rights V iolations, and Corruption In response to increasing repression in Venezuela, Congress enacted the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-278; 50 U.S.C. §1701 note). Among its provisions, the law required the President to impose sanctions on those the President identified as responsible for significant acts of violence, serious human rights abuses, or antidemocratic actions. Congress extended these sanctions authorizations through 2023 in P.L. 116-94. President Obama issued E.O. 13692 to implement P.L. 113- 278 in March 2015, and Treasury issued regulations in July 2015 (31 C.F.R. Part 591). The E.O. targets (for asset blocking and visa restrictions) those involved in actions or policies undermining democratic processes or institutions; serious human rights abuses; prohibiting, limiting, or penalizing freedom of expression or peaceful assembly; and public corruption. It includes any person who is a current or former leader of any entity engaged in any of those activities, as well as current or former government officials. Although the sanctions authorities in P.L. 116-94 expired in December 2023, the President still has the authority to impose them under E.O. 13692. Treasury has imposed SDN sanctions on roughly 131 Venezuelans and at least eight entities pursuant to E.O. 13692. Those individuals include President Maduro, his wife, and his son; Vice President Delcy Rodrfguez; Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez; supreme court judges; and governors. Also subject to SDN sanctions are the 16 election officials, judges, prosecutors, and security sector officials designated on September 12, 2024, for undermining democracy during and after the July 28 election.

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