Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2025

Bill: 119-hr-2643
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]
Introduced: 2025-04-03
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Caribbean area

Congressional oversight

Criminal procedure and sentencing

Foreign aid and international relief

Foreign property

Haiti

Organized crime

Political parties and affiliation

Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Rule of law and government transparency

Sanctions

Visas and passports
Latest action: action_date: 2025-09-03
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-04-03
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2025</strong></p><p>This bill requires the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that are involved in or have direct ties to prominent criminal gangs in Haiti.</p><p>Specifically, the Department of State must periodically report to Congress on the ties between criminal gangs and political and economic elites in Haiti. The report must list (1) prominent criminal gangs in Haiti and the leaders thereof, and (2) Haitian political and economic elites who have direct links to criminal gangs and any organizations or entities controlled by these individuals. The President must impose sanctions on listed individuals and entities.</p><p>Under the bill, the term <em>economic elites</em> means board members, officers, and executives of groups, corporations, or other entities that exert substantial influence or control over Haiti’s economy, infrastructure, or particular industries. <em>Political elites</em> means current and former government officials and their high-level staff and political party or committee leaders.</p><p>The bill also applies civil and criminal penalties to persons that violate, attempt to violate, conspire to violate, or cause a violation of the regulations promulgated to carry out such sanctions.</p>

tv_txt: IIB 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2643 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 3, 2025 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations AN ACT To require the Secretary of State to submit an annual report to Congress regarding the ties between criminal gangs and political and economic elites in Haiti and impose sanctions on political and economic elites involved in such criminal activities.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2025 . 2. Reporting requirements (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the following 5 years, the Secretary of State, in coordination with other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees regarding the ties between criminal gangs and political and economic elites in Haiti. The report shall— (1) identify and list prominent criminal gangs in Haiti as well as the leaders thereof, and describe their criminal activities including coercive recruitment, and identify their primary geographic areas of operations; (2) list Haitian political and economic elites who have direct links to criminal gangs and any organizations or entities controlled by these elites; (3) describe in detail the relationship between the individuals listed pursuant to paragraph (2) and the criminal gangs identified pursuant to paragraph (1); (4) describe in detail how Haitian political and economic elites use their relationships with criminal gangs to advance their political and economic interests and agenda; (5) include a list of each criminal organization assessed to be trafficking Haitians and other individuals to the United States border; (6) include an assessment of ties between political and economic elites, criminal gangs in Haiti, and transnational criminal organizations; (7) include an assessment of how the nature and extent of collusion between political and economic elites and criminal gangs threatens the Haitian people and United States national interests and activities in the country; and (8) include an assessment of potential actions that the Government of the United States could take to address the findings made pursuant to paragraph (6). (b) Form of report The report required under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. 3. Sanctions (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the submission of the report to the appropriate committees, the President shall impose the sanctions described in subsection (b) with respect to each foreign person identified pursuant to sections 2(a)(1) and 2(a)(2). (b) Sanctions described The sanctions described in this subsection are the following: (1) Property blocking Notwithstanding the requirements of section 202 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1701 ), the President may exercise of all powers granted to the President by that Act to the extent necessary to block and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in property of the foreign person if such property and interests in property are in the United States, come within the United States, or are or come within the possession or control of a United States person. (2) Visas, admission, or parole (A) In general An alien who the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or a designee of one of such Secretaries) knows, or has reason to believe, is described in subsection (a) is— (i) inadmissible to the United States; (ii) ineligible for a visa or other documentation to enter the United States; and (iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into the United States or to receive any other benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq. ). (B) Current visas revoked (i) In general The issuing consular officer, the Secretary of State, or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or a designee of one of such Secretaries) shall, in accordance with section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1201(i) ), revoke any visa or other entry documentation issued to an alien described in subsection (a) regardless of when the visa or other entry documentation is issued. (ii) Effect of revocation A revocation under clause (i) shall take effect immediately and shall automatically cancel any other valid visa or entry documentation that is in the alien’s possession. (c) Exceptions (1) Exception to comply with international obligations Sanctions under this section shall not apply with respect to the admission of an alien if admitting or paroling the alien into the United States is necessary to permit the United States to comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United States, or other applicable international obligations. (2) Exception relating to the provision of humanitarian assistance Sanctions under this section may not be imposed with respect to transactions or the facilitation of transactions for— (A) the sale of agricultural commodities, food, medicine, or medical devices to Haiti; (B) the provision of humanitarian assistance to the people of Haiti; (C) financial transactions relating to humanitarian assistance or for humanitarian purposes in Haiti; or (D) transporting goods or services that are necessary to carry out operations relating to humanitarian assistance or humanitarian purposes in Haiti. (d) Implementation; penalties (1) Implementation The President may exercise all authorities provided to the President under sections 203 and 205 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) to carry out this subtitle. (2) Penalties The penalties provided for in of section 206(b) and (c) of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1705 ) shall apply to a person that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of regulations promulgated to carry out this section to the same extent that such penalties apply to a person that commits an unlawful act described in section 206(a) of that Act. (e) Waiver The President may waive the application of sanctions or restrictions imposed with respect to a foreign person under this section if the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the waiver is important to the national interests of the United States. (f) Exception relating to importation of goods (1) In general The authorities and requirements to impose sanctions authorized under this section shall not include the authority or requirement to impose sanctions on the importation of goods. (2) Good defined In this subsection, the term good means any article, natural or man-made substance, material, supply or manufactured product, including inspection and test equipment, and excluding technical data. 4. Definitions In this Act: (1) Appropriate congressional committees The term appropriate congressional committees means— (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; (C) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives; (D) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate; (E) the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; (F) the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence; (G) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and (H) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. (1) Foreign person The term foreign person means an individual or entity that is not a United States person. (2) United States person The term United States person means— (A) a United States citizen; (B) a permanent resident alien of the United States; or (C) an entity organized under the laws of the United States or of any jurisdiction within the United States, including a foreign branch of such an entity. (3) Economic elites The term economic elites means board members, officers, and executives of groups, committees, corporations, or other entities that exert substantial influence or control over Haiti’s economy, infrastructure, or particular industries. (4) Political elites The term political elites means current and former government officials and their high-level staff, political party leaders, and political committee leaders. 5. Sunset The authorities provided by this Act shall cease to have effect on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Passed the House of Representatives September 2, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2643 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To require the Secretary of State to submit an annual report to Congress regarding the ties between criminal gangs and political and economic elites in Haiti and impose sanctions on political and economic elites involved in such criminal activities.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2025 . 2. Reporting requirements (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the following 5 years, the Secretary of State, in coordination with other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees regarding the ties between criminal gangs and political and economic elites in Haiti. The report shall— (1) identify and list prominent criminal gangs in Haiti as well as the leaders thereof, and describe their criminal activities including coercive recruitment, and identify their primary geographic areas of operations; (2) list Haitian political and economic elites who have direct links to criminal gangs and any organizations or entities controlled by these elites; (3) describe in detail the relationship between the individuals listed pursuant to paragraph (2) and the criminal gangs identified pursuant to paragraph (1); (4) describe in detail how Haitian political and economic elites use their relationships with criminal gangs to advance their political and economic interests and agenda; (5) include a list of each criminal organization assessed to be trafficking Haitians and other individuals to the United States border; (6) include an assessment of ties between political and economic elites, criminal gangs in Haiti, and transnational criminal organizations; (7) include an assessment of how the nature and extent of collusion between political and economic elites and criminal gangs threatens the Haitian people and United States national interests and activities in the country; and (8) include an assessment of potential actions that the Government of the United States could take to address the findings made pursuant to paragraph (6). (b) Form of report The report required under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. 3. Sanctions (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the submission of the report to the appropriate committees, the President shall impose the sanctions described in subsection (b) with respect to each foreign person identified pursuant to sections 2(a)(1) and 2(a)(2). (b) Sanctions described The sanctions described in this subsection are the following: (1) Property blocking Notwithstanding the requirements of section 202 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1701 ), the President may exercise of all powers granted to the President by that Act to the extent necessary to block and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in property of the foreign person if such property and interests in property are in the United States, come within the United States, or are or come within the possession or control of a United States person. (2) Visas, admission, or parole (A) In general An alien who the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or a designee of one of such Secretaries) knows, or has reason to believe, is described in subsection (a) is— (i) inadmissible to the United States; (ii) ineligible for a visa or other documentation to enter the United States; and (iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into the United States or to receive any other benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq. ). (B) Current visas revoked (i) In general The issuing consular officer, the Secretary of State, or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or a designee of one of such Secretaries) shall, in accordance with section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1201(i) ), revoke any visa or other entry documentation issued to an alien described in subsection (a) regardless of when the visa or other entry documentation is issued. (ii) Effect of revocation A revocation under clause (i) shall take effect immediately and shall automatically cancel any other valid visa or entry documentation that is in the alien’s possession. (c) Exceptions (1) Exception to comply with international obligations Sanctions under this section shall not apply with respect to the admission of an alien if admitting or paroling the alien into the United States is necessary to permit the United States to comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United States, or other applicable international obligations. (2) Exception relating to the provision of humanitarian assistance Sanctions under this section may not be imposed with respect to transactions or the facilitation of transactions for— (A) the sale of agricultural commodities, food, medicine, or medical devices to Haiti; (B) the provision of humanitarian assistance to the people of Haiti; (C) financial transactions relating to humanitarian assistance or for humanitarian purposes in Haiti; or (D) transporting goods or services that are necessary to carry out operations relating to humanitarian assistance or humanitarian purposes in Haiti. (d) Implementation; penalties (1) Implementation The President may exercise all authorities provided to the President under sections 203 and 205 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) to carry out this subtitle. (2) Penalties The penalties provided for in of section 206(b) and (c) of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1705 ) shall apply to a person that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of regulations promulgated to carry out this section to the same extent that such penalties apply to a person that commits an unlawful act described in section 206(a) of that Act. (e) Waiver The President may waive the application of sanctions or restrictions imposed with respect to a foreign person under this section if the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the waiver is important to the national interests of the United States. (f) Exception relating to importation of goods (1) In general The authorities and requirements to impose sanctions authorized under this section shall not include the authority or requirement to impose sanctions on the importation of goods. (2) Good defined In this subsection, the term good means any article, natural or man-made substance, material, supply or manufactured product, including inspection and test equipment, and excluding technical data. 4. Definitions In this Act: (1) Appropriate congressional committees The term appropriate congressional committees means— (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; (C) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives; (D) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate; (E) the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; (F) the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence; (G) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and (H) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. (1) Foreign person The term foreign person means an individual or entity that is not a United States person. (2) United States person The term United States person means— (A) a United States citizen; (B) a permanent resident alien of the United States; or (C) an entity organized under the laws of the United States or of any jurisdiction within the United States, including a foreign branch of such an entity. (3) Economic elites The term economic elites means board members, officers, and executives of groups, committees, corporations, or other entities that exert substantial influence or control over Haiti’s economy, infrastructure, or particular industries. (4) Political elites The term political elites means current and former government officials and their high-level staff, political party leaders, and political committee leaders. 5. Sunset The authorities provided by this Act shall cease to have effect on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Passed the House of Representatives September 2, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2643 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 3, 2025 Mr. Meeks (for himself, Mr. McCaul , and Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs , and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To require the Secretary of State to submit an annual report to Congress regarding the ties between criminal gangs and political and economic elites in Haiti and impose sanctions on political and economic elites involved in such criminal activities.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2025 . 2. Reporting requirements (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the following 5 years, the Secretary of State, in coordination with other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees regarding the ties between criminal gangs and political and economic elites in Haiti. The report shall— (1) identify and list prominent criminal gangs in Haiti as well as the leaders thereof, and describe their criminal activities including coercive recruitment, and identify their primary geographic areas of operations; (2) list Haitian political and economic elites who have direct links to criminal gangs and any organizations or entities controlled by these elites; (3) describe in detail the relationship between the individuals listed pursuant to paragraph (2) and the criminal gangs identified pursuant to paragraph (1); (4) describe in detail how Haitian political and economic elites use their relationships with criminal gangs to advance their political and economic interests and agenda; (5) include a list of each criminal organization assessed to be trafficking Haitians and other individuals to the United States border; (6) include an assessment of ties between political and economic elites, criminal gangs in Haiti, and transnational criminal organizations; (7) include an assessment of how the nature and extent of collusion between political and economic elites and criminal gangs threatens the Haitian people and United States national interests and activities in the country; and (8) include an assessment of potential actions that the Government of the United States could take to address the findings made pursuant to paragraph (6). (b) Form of report The report required under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. 3. Sanctions (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the submission of the report to the appropriate committees, the President shall impose the sanctions described in subsection (b) with respect to each foreign person identified pursuant to sections 2(a)(1) and 2(a)(2). (b) Sanctions described The sanctions described in this subsection are the following: (1) Property blocking Notwithstanding the requirements of section 202 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1701 ), the President may exercise of all powers granted to the President by that Act to the extent necessary to block and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in property of the foreign person if such property and interests in property are in the United States, come within the United States, or are or come within the possession or control of a United States person. (2) Visas, admission, or parole (A) In general An alien who the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or a designee of one of such Secretaries) knows, or has reason to believe, is described in subsection (a) is— (i) inadmissible to the United States; (ii) ineligible for a visa or other documentation to enter the United States; and (iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into the United States or to receive any other benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq. ). (B) Current visas revoked (i) In general The issuing consular officer, the Secretary of State, or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or a designee of one of such Secretaries) shall, in accordance with section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1201(i) ), revoke any visa or other entry documentation issued to an alien described in subsection (a) regardless of when the visa or other entry documentation is issued. (ii) Effect of revocation A revocation under clause (i) shall take effect immediately and shall automatically cancel any other valid visa or entry documentation that is in the alien’s possession. (c) Exceptions (1) Exception to comply with international obligations Sanctions under this section shall not apply with respect to the admission of an alien if admitting or paroling the alien into the United States is necessary to permit the United States to comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United States, or other applicable international obligations. (2) Exception relating to the provision of humanitarian assistance Sanctions under this section may not be imposed with respect to transactions or the facilitation of transactions for— (A) the sale of agricultural commodities, food, medicine, or medical devices to Haiti; (B) the provision of humanitarian assistance to the people of Haiti; (C) financial transactions relating to humanitarian assistance or for humanitarian purposes in Haiti; or (D) transporting goods or services that are necessary to carry out operations relating to humanitarian assistance or humanitarian purposes in Haiti. (d) Implementation; penalties (1) Implementation The President may exercise all authorities provided to the President under sections 203 and 205 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) to carry out this subtitle. (2) Penalties The penalties provided for in of section 206(b) and (c) of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1705 ) shall apply to a person that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of regulations promulgated to carry out this section to the same extent that such penalties apply to a person that commits an unlawful act described in section 206(a) of that Act. (e) Waiver The President may waive the application of sanctions or restrictions imposed with respect to a foreign person under this section if the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the waiver is important to the national interests of the United States. 4. Definitions In this Act: (1) Appropriate congressional committees The term appropriate congressional committees means— (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; (C) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives; (D) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate; (E) the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; (F) the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence; (G) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and (H) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. (1) Foreign person The term foreign person means an individual or entity that is not a United States person. (2) United States person The term United States person means— (A) a United States citizen; (B) a permanent resident alien of the United States; or (C) an entity organized under the laws of the United States or of any jurisdiction within the United States, including a foreign branch of such an entity. (3) Economic elites The term economic elites means board members, officers, and executives of groups, committees, corporations, or other entities that exert substantial influence or control over Haiti’s economy, infrastructure, or particular industries. (4) Political elites The term political elites means current and former government officials and their high-level staff, political party leaders, and political committee leaders. 5. Sunset The authorities provided by this Act shall cease to have effect on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.