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Caribbean Basin Security Initiative [Updated August 12, 2022]
From the Document: "The United States developed the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), a regional U.S. foreign assistance program, in 2009 through a process of dialogue with Caribbean countries. The initiative seeks to reduce illicit trafficking in the region, advance public safety and security, and promote social justice. Because of their geographic location, many Caribbean nations are vulnerable to being used as transit countries for illicit drugs from South America destined for the U.S. and European markets. Strengthened U.S. counternarcotics cooperation with Mexico and Central America led U.S. policymakers to anticipate a potential increase in narcotics trafficking through the Caribbean. Many Caribbean countries have also suffered high rates of violent crime, including murder, often associated with drug trafficking activities. [...] Congress has supported funding for the CBSI. From FY2010 through FY2022, Congress appropriated $831 million for the CBSI[.] [...] For FY2023, the Administration requested $63.5 million for the CBSI, almost 21% less than appropriated by Congress for FY2022 and 15% less than provided for FY2021. The House Appropriations Committee's reported FY2023 foreign aid appropriations bill, H.R. 8282 (H.Rept. 117-401), would provide for not less than $82 million for the CBSI and would require a spend plan for the funding. The explanatory statement to the Senate FY2023 foreign aid appropriations bill, S. 4662, would recommend not less than $80 million for the CBSI and also would require a spend plan."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.
2022-08-12
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Criminal Justice Data: Human Trafficking [August 10, 2022]
From the Document: "Human trafficking occurs across the United States and around the world. Traffickers exploit vulnerable individuals for commercial sex and forced labor in a variety of legal and illegal industries. While some estimates exist, comprehensive data on the incidence of human trafficking within the United States are not available. Some metrics suggest that more foreign victims may be involved in labor trafficking than in sex trafficking, and that more U.S. citizen victims may be involved in sex trafficking than labor trafficking. In addition, the federal government prosecutes more individuals for sex trafficking than for labor trafficking offenses. For over two decades, Congress has been legislating to counter human trafficking in the United States. Through the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA, Division A of P.L. [Public Law] 106-386) and its subsequent reauthorizations, Congress has passed legislation aimed at preventing human trafficking, strengthening criminal laws aimed at investigating and prosecuting traffickers, and providing protections and services for survivors. Nonetheless, while Congress has taken steps to bolster data collection on human trafficking, there remains a knowledge gap about its true prevalence. This report provides an overview of human trafficking and a discussion of the challenges involved in gathering data on its prevalence. It outlines existing human trafficking datasets and their limitations, and highlights issues that policymakers may consider in debates about expanding data and building knowledge on the extent and nature of human trafficking."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hanson, Emily J.; Finklea, Kristin M.
2022-08-10
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Cambodia [Updated August 4, 2022]
From the Overview: "U.S. relations with the Kingdom of Cambodia have become strained over the past decade, particularly as Cambodia's relationship with the People's Republic of China (PRC) has grown closer and after Prime Minister Hun Sen banned the main opposition party in 2017. The U.S. government has sought to remain engaged in Cambodia while calling on Hun Sen to restore political rights and resist PRC influence. The U.S. government has provided support to Cambodian civil society and has imposed restrictions on foreign assistance and sanctions on some Cambodian officials. In 2017, the Cambodian government suspended Angkor Sentinel, an annual exercise between U.S. Army Pacific and the Royal Cambodian Army that was first held in 2010, saying that security forces were needed for other purposes. In 2018, the U.S. government suspended military assistance to Cambodia in response to the government's suppression of the political opposition. The two sides continue to cooperate on activities aimed at accounting for U.S. Prisoners of War and Missing in Action from the Vietnam War era. Two bills introduced in the 117th Congress, S. 3052 and H.R. 4686, would impose sanctions on senior Cambodian officials the President has determined have directly and substantially undermined democracy or engaged in serious human rights abuses."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lum, Thomas G. (Thomas Gong), 1961-
2022-08-04
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Venezuela: Political Crisis and U.S. Policy [Updated August 1, 2022]
From the Document: "Venezuela, under the authoritarian rule of Nicolás Maduro, remains in a deep economic and humanitarian crisis worsened by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Maduro has consolidated power over all of Venezuela's institutions since his 2013 election after the death of President Hugo Chávez (1999-2013). Maduro's United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) took control of the National Assembly in January 2021. The PSUV and allies won 19 of 23 gubernatorial races in flawed November 2021 elections. Maduro has quashed dissent and resisted U.S. and international pressure to step down since his reelection in a 2018 presidential vote widely condemned as fraudulent. Support for opposition leader Juan Guaidó, the former National Assembly president once regarded as interim president by nearly 60 other countries, has dissipated, although the Biden Administration continues to recognize Guaidó's government, partially to prevent Venezuelan assets abroad from coming under Maduro's control. Administration officials nevertheless met with Maduro in March and June 2022, reportedly to discuss U.S. citizens illegally detained in Venezuela, restarting stalled negotiations with the opposition, and energy issues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando
2022-08-01
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Enabling a More Externally Focused and Operational PLA
From the Foreword: "As China seeks to exert its power and influence around the world, its military, the People's Liberation Army, will be an increasingly important instrument of these efforts. Twenty years ago, the People's Liberation Army rarely ventured beyond China's borders. Today, this observation no longer holds true. The People's Liberation Army now engages in numerous joint exercises and training events with foreign militaries each year, participates in a wide range of bilateral and multilateral security dialogues and forums, deploys forces to several UN peacekeeping operations, and frequently conducts humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions. Moreover, the People's Liberation Army is developing the capabilities to conduct combat missions outside its immediate periphery, although the organization has not been involved in combat since the 1980s. Therefore, aside from the possibility of conflict between the United States and China in the western Pacific area, the US military will increasingly have to take account of the presence and activities of the People's Liberation Army throughout the world. The conference papers in this book examine the People's Liberation Army's current and possible future activities beyond the confines of East Asia; analyze China's military relations with the continents of Europe, Africa, and Latin America; assess the People's Liberation Army's activities in the Indian Ocean, Oceania, and the polar regions; and contain focused studies of the roles of two key organizations: the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force and the Joint Logistic Support Force. Collectively, the book provides a comprehensive picture of a military organization that is extending its reach to all corners of the globe."
Army War College (U.S.). Press
Béraud-Sudreau, Lucie; Brewster, David; Cairns, Christopher . . .
2022-07-27
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Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) [Updated July 26, 2022]
From the Overview: "The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is Southeast Asia's primary multilateral organization, a 10- member grouping of nations with a combined population of 660 million and a combined annual gross domestic product (GDP) of around $3.1 trillion in 2021. Established in 1967, it has grown into one of the world's largest regional fora, representing a strategically important region straddling some of the world's busiest sea lanes, including the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea. Taken collectively, ASEAN would rank as the world's fifth-largest economy and the United States' fourth-largest export market. ASEAN's members are Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Members rotate as chair: Cambodia is ASEAN's chair for 2022 and Indonesia is to assume the chair in 2023. ASEAN engages in a wide range of diplomatic, economic and security discussions through hundreds of annual meetings and through a secretariat based in Jakarta, Indonesia. In 2008, the United States became the first non-ASEAN nation to appoint a representative to ASEAN, and in 2011 it opened a U.S. mission to ASEAN in Jakarta with a resident ambassador. Several other nations have followed suit. President Biden held a summit with ASEAN's leaders on May 12-13 in Washington, DC. (Burma's junta leader and outgoing Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte did not attend.) ASEAN leaders also met with a bipartisan group of Members including House Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, and Minority Leader McCarthy. ASEAN is a diverse and informal organization."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dolven, Ben
2022-07-26
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Section 307 and Imports Produced by Forced Labor [Updated July 26, 2022]
From the Document: "Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. §1307) prohibits importing any product that was mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part by forced labor, including forced or indentured child labor. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enforces the prohibition. [...] U.S. customs law has prohibited importing goods produced by certain categories of labor since the end of the nineteenth century. Beginning in 1890, the United States prohibited imports of goods manufactured with convict labor. In 1930, Congress expanded this prohibition in Section 307 of the Tariff Act to include any (not just manufactured) products of forced labor. Although a few Members brought up humanitarian concerns during debate, the central legislative concern was protecting domestic producers from competing with products made with forced labor. As such, Section 307 allowed the admission of products of forced labor if it could be shown that no comparable product was made in the United States or the level of domestic production did not meet domestic demand ('consumptive demand' clause)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.; Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.
2022-07-26
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H. Rept. 117-442: Assault Weapons Ban of 2022, Report Together with Minority Views, to Accompany H.R. 1808, July 26, 2022
From the Purpose and Summary: "On March 11, 2021, Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) introduced H.R. 1808, the 'Assault Weapons Ban of 2021,' with 187 original cosponsors. This legislation prohibits the sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices (also known as 'large capacity magazines'). Currently, there are no federal laws that restrict the sale of semiautomatic assault weapons or large capacity ammunition feeding devices. Reducing the prevalence of these weapons and devices will reduce the lives lost to gun violence and make our communities safer. Semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices 'result in more shots fired, more persons hit, and more wounds inflicted per victim than do attacks with other firearms.'"
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022-07-26
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H. Rept. 117-438: Safe Connections Act of 2022, to Accompany H.R. 7132, July 26, 2022
From the Purpose and Summary: "H.R. 7132, the ''Safe Connections Act of 2022,'' addresses digital abuse that can happen when an abuser shares a mobile phone service contract with their victim, giving the abuser access to sensitive information about the victim, including the phone numbers they use to communicate with and in some cases, their location. The legislation amends the Communications Act of 1934 (Communications Act) by requiring mobile service providers, after receiving a line separation request from a survivor of domestic violence, human trafficking, or other related crimes for a mobile service contract shared with an abuser, to separate the line of the survivor (and the line of any individual in the care of the survivor) from the shared mobile service contract or separate the line of the abuser from the shared mobile service contract. The legislation also directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue rules, within 18 months of the Act's enactment, implementing line separation requests from survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and other related crimes and to establish emergency communications support for these survivors suffering financial hardship for up to six months."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022-07-26
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 6552, Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2022
From the Bill Summary: "H.R. 6552 would reauthorize several programs that prevent trafficking in persons, which are managed by the Departments of Justice (DOJ), Health and Human Services (HHS), Homeland Security (DHS), and State, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. The bill would authorize the appropriation of $1.1 billion over the 2022-2026 period for those purposes. In addition, the bill would require the General Services Administration (GSA) to implement a new contractual preference for hotels and motels with a policy of zero-tolerance for human trafficking. In total, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing the bill would cost $553 million over the 2022-2027 period. Such spending would be subject to appropriation of the specified and estimated amounts. The costs of the legislation [...] fall within budget functions 150 (international affairs), 500 (education, training, employment, and social services), 750 (administration of justice) and 800 (general government)."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2022-07-20
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Noncitizen Eligibility for Federal Housing Programs [Updated July 18, 2022]
From the Introduction: "The federal government has authorized and funds a variety of housing programs, including direct assistance for low-income renters; grants and other aid for states, localities, and nonprofits to meet local housing needs; and loans and loan guarantees for mortgage lending to support homeownership. The availability of these programs for noncitizens1 varies depending on the underlying laws that authorize or govern them, the federal agencies that administer them and the guidance they have issued, and the immigration status of a noncitizen and his or her household members. (While this report discusses policy implementation and the positions agencies have taken under the statutes, it does not provide a legal analysis of ambiguities in the statutes.) This report begins by introducing the range of federal housing programs and the range of immigration statuses of noncitizens. It continues with an overview of the relevant statutes governing noncitizen eligibility, followed by a discussion of policy implementation as applied to various programs. The report closes with a discussion of recent administrative actions relevant to federal housing programs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarty, Maggie; Kolker, Abigail F.
2022-07-18
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Promoting Public Safety in Indian Country
This memorandum, dated July 13, 2022, is regarding "Promoting Public Safety in Indian Country." From the Memorandum: "It is a priority of the Department of Justice to address the disproportionately high rates of violence experienced by American Indians and Alaska Natives (Al/AN), and relatedly, the high rates of indigenous persons reported missing. In November 2021 , the Department established a Steering Committee dedicated to marshalling the Department's resources and personnel to address these issues. The Steering Committee undertook a review--in close consultation with Tribal leaders and stakeholders--of the Department's relevant guidance, policies, and practices to improve the law enforcement response in Indian country."
United States. Office of the Deputy Attorney General
Monaco, Lisa Oudens, 1968-
2022-07-13
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H. Rept. 117-404: Virgin Islands Visa Waiver Act of 2022, Report to Accompany H.R. 5460, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, July 12, 2022
From the Purpose and Summary: "H.R. 5460, the ''Virgin Islands Visa Waiver Act of 2022,'' would allow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create a visa waiver program limited to the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), permitting visitors for tourism, business, or medical purposes from certain countries to enter only the USVI without seeking a visa from the Department of State. A limited visa waiver program already exists for the U.S. territories of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). To determine which countries to include in the USVI Visa Waiver Program, H.R. 5460 authorizes the Secretary to apply the same criteria currently used in the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program. Such criteria shall include regulatory provisions preventing recalcitrant countries from remaining in the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program. H.R. 5460 also requires the Secretary to consider countries in the Caribbean Community for inclusion in the USVI Visa Waiver Program, but explicitly prohibits inclusion of countries if such inclusion would increase fraud or abuse in our nonimmigrant visa system."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022-07-12
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Dismantling of Hong Kong's Civil Society
From the Webpage: "The once vibrant civil society and pro-democratic institutions of Hong Kong are being systematically dismantled by a Hong Kong government submissive to the dictates of the People's Republic of China. The Hong Kong government used massive protests against a proposed extradition bill in the summer of 2019 as excuses to silence pro-democracy voices, and later implemented the draconian National Security Law to jail protestors and politicians and shutter independent civil society and media organizations, such as the Apple Daily. The national security police deploy colonial-era public order laws to criminalize dissent, including clapping hands in court and publishing a children's book. At least 10,500 Hong Kongers have been arrested for political and protest-related offenses. No fewer than 113 individuals face national security charges and will likely be tried with few or no due process protections and with possible extradition to mainland China. At least 65 civil society organizations have shut down or left Hong Kong for fear of prosecution under the National Security Law. Following the recent 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to the People's Republic of China, this hearing will present witnesses with deep involvement in civil society work and experience of being persecuted. The witnesses will address what the losses of civil society organizations and democratic institutions mean for Hong Kong and provide recommendations for U.S. policy. The archived hearing video can be viewed on the CECC's YouTube channel [hyperlink]."
United States. Congressional-Executive Commission on China
2022-07-12
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Nonimmigrant and Immigrant Visa Categories: Data Brief [Updated July 11, 2022]
From the Introduction: "Congress has an interest in the visa categories by which foreign nationals may enter or be present in the United States and how they are being used. U.S. immigration policy is governed largely by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which was first codified in 1952 and has been amended significantly several times since. The United States has long distinguished temporary immigration from permanent immigration. Temporary immigration occurs through the admission of visitors for specific purposes and limited periods of time, and encompasses two dozen categories (which are commonly referred to by the letter and numeral that denote their subparagraph in the INA). Permanent immigration occurs through family- and employer-sponsored categories, the diversity immigrant visa lottery, refugee and asylee admissions, and other pathways."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Wilson, Jill, 1974-
2022-07-11
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H. Rept. 117-396: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, 2023, Report Together with Minority Views, to Accompany H.R. 8257, July 1, 2022
From the Document: "The Committee on Appropriations submits the following report in explanation of the accompanying bill making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022-07-01
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H. Rept. 117-397: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, Report to Accompany H.R. 7900, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, July 1, 2022
From the Purpose of the Legislation: "The bill would: (1) authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2023 for procurement and for research, development, test, and evaluation; (2) authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2023 for operation and maintenance and for working capital funds; (3) authorize for fiscal year 2023 the personnel strength for each Active Duty Component of the military departments, and the personnel strength for the Selected Reserve for each Reserve Component of the Armed Forces; (4) modify various elements of compensation for military personnel and impose certain requirements and limitations on personnel actions in the defense establishment; (5) authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2023 for military construction and family housing; (6) authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2023 for the Department of Energy national security programs; and (7) authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2023 for the Maritime Administration."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022-07-01
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Trafficking in Persons Report, July 2022
From the Document: "Survivors of human trafficking play a vital role in combating this crime. Their perspective and experience should be taken into consideration to better address this crime and to craft a better response to it. [...] The goal of this introduction is to highlight and emphasize the importance of meaningful survivor engagement - specifically with experts with lived experience of human trafficking for whom sufficient time has passed since their victimization - and to share context, lessons learned, and guidance to governments, international organizations, civil society, private sector entities, and other stakeholders who wish to further their survivor engagement efforts. While many anti-trafficking stakeholders have long consulted survivors in their work, it is imperative that this engagement be done in a responsible and meaningful way and that stakeholders develop and improve upon their approaches to doing so. This effort will bolster inclusivity, help prevent sensationalism, and reduce potential re-traumatization of survivors. It will also promote more effective criminal justice responses that provide remedies for victims and survivors and help prevent trafficking crimes. This year's introduction seeks to establish a solid foundation for how to responsibly engage survivors through trauma-informed approaches that promote transparency, trust, equity, inclusivity, and commitment to collaboration."
United States. Department of State
2022-07
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Federal Sentencing of Illegal Reentry: The Impact of the 2016 Guideline Amendment
From the Introduction: "In 2016, the United States Sentencing Commission promulgated an amendment that comprehensively revised the guideline covering illegal reentry offenses--§ [section] 2L1.2 (Unlawfully Entering or Remaining in the United States). The amendment, Amendment 802, became effective November 1, 2016, and represented the most comprehensive revision of a major guideline in the last two decades. This report examines the impact of Amendment 802 by looking back at sentencings under §2L1.2 over the last ten fiscal years. The report first describes the concerns leading to the amendment, including that §2L1.2's 12- and 16-level increases were overly severe and led to variances, and that using the 'categorical approach' to apply enhancements was overly complex, resource intensive, and increased litigation and uncertainty. After outlining the changes made by Amendment 802, the report assesses its impact on guideline application for §2L1.2 offenders and on appeals involving §2L1.2."
United States Sentencing Commission
Kachnowski, Vera M.; Russell, Amanda
2022-07
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H. Rept. 117-401: State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill, 2023, Report Together with Minority Views, to Accompany H.R. 8282, July 1, 2022
From the Document: "The Committee on Appropriations submits the following report in explanation of the accompanying bill making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, and for other purposes."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022-07-01
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United States Government Women, Peace, and Security Congressional Report [July 2022]
From the Executive Summary: "In March 2021, President Biden released Executive Order 14020, Establishment of the White House Gender Policy Council (GPC), which mandated a whole-of government strategy to promote gender equality, and corresponding Department and Agency Action Plans within nine months of the Strategy's release. The U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality (NGS) was released in October 2021, with the aim of advancing gender equity and equality, including the importance of women's meaningful participation across all facets of security, leadership, and development in our domestic and foreign policy. This year's WPS [Women, Peace, and Security] report--the first full year of the Biden-Harris Administration--reflects a robust commitment to the application of WPS into our foreign policy and national security, as well as unparalleled commitments to enhancing gender equity and equality for women in the security sector in our own country. The Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017 (P.L. 115-68) (WPS Act) codified the United States Government's (USG) longstanding, sustained commitment to the principles of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda."
United States. White House Office
2022-07
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Immigration Detention in California: A Review of Detention Facilities' Response to COVID-19 as of Fall 2021
From the Executive Summary: "For its third report under Assembly Bill 103 (2017) (AB 103), the California Department of Justice (Cal DOJ) examines how the locked facilities that contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to house noncitizens in ICE custody have responded to the unique challenges that have arisen during the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. The facilities' responses were directed in large part by requirements and recommendations from ICE and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as by court mandates seeking to remedy especially dangerous situations through specific requirements for social distancing, testing, monitoring, and caps on facility populations. As a result of both ICE and court requirements, detainee populations at ICE facilities in California were sharply reduced in 2020 and remained well under pre-pandemic numbers in 2021. This meant that, although a number of facilities across the State had lower detainee counts, ICE had to continue paying for empty beds under contractual terms guaranteeing payment for a minimum number of beds. At the same time, the average number of days a person was detained in the facilities across the State increased exponentially."
California. Department of Justice; California. Office of the Attorney General
2022-07
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Annual Report 2022: Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman
From the Executive Summary: "The Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman) 2022 Annual Report covers calendar year 2021, as well as key developments in early 2022. It contains: [1] An overview of the CIS Ombudsman's mission and services; [2] A review of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) programmatic and policy challenges during this reporting period; and [3] A detailed discussion of pervasive problems, recommendations, and best practices in the administration of our immigration laws."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2022-06-30
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Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2022 Budget and Appropriations [Updated June 27, 2022]
From the Overview: "Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs (SFOPS) appropriations support a wide range of U.S. activities around the world, including the operation of U.S. embassies; diplomatic activities; educational and cultural exchanges; international development, security, and humanitarian assistance; and U.S. participation in multilateral organizations. The SFOPS appropriation closely aligns with the International Affairs budget function, which typically represents about 1% of the annual federal budget[.] [...] On May 28, 2021, the Biden Administration released its proposed FY2022 budget request, which called for $62.656 billion in new budget authority for SFOPS accounts ($62.121 billion if proposed rescissions of prior year funding are subtracted). The Administration submitted a supplemental budget request on March 2, 2022, including $9.35 billion in SFOPS accounts to address needs related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the global Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) response. The Administration made a second supplemental funding request on April 28, 2022, calling for an additional $14.76 billion in SFOPS funding related to the war in Ukraine. This brought the total FY2022 SFOPS request to $86.131 billion, net of rescissions ($86.666 before rescissions)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gill, Cory R.; Morgenstern, Emily M.; Lawson, Marian Leonardo
2022-06-27
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Strategy to Prevent the Importation of Goods Mined, Produced, or Manufactured with Forced Labor in the People's Republic of China
From the Executive Summary: "The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) was enacted on December 23, 2021, to strengthen the existing prohibition against the importation of goods made wholly or in part with forced labor into the United States and to end the systematic use of forced labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang). Among its mandates, the UFLPA charged the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF), chaired by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to develop a strategy for supporting the enforcement of Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. § 1307) to prevent the importation into the United States of goods mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part with forced labor in the People's Republic of China (PRC). This strategy incorporates input from various public and private-sector stakeholders. It incorporates significant contributions from FLETF members and observers and takes into account public comments received through the FLETF's Federal Register request for information and the UFLPA public hearing."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans
2022-06-17
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Combatting Online Harms Through Innovation
From the Executive Summary: "The deployment of AI [artificial intelligence] tools intended to detect or otherwise address harmful online content is accelerating. Largely within the confines -- or via funding from -- the few big technology companies that have the necessary resources and infrastructure, AI tools are being conceived, developed, and used for purposes including combat against many of the harms listed by Congress. Given the amount of online content at issue, this result appears to be inevitable, as a strictly human alternative is impossible or extremely costly at scale. Nonetheless, it is crucial to understand that these tools remain largely rudimentary, have substantial limitations, and may never be appropriate in some cases as an alternative to human judgment. Their use -- both now and in the future -- raises a host of persistent legal and policy concerns. The key conclusion of this report is thus that governments, platforms, and others must exercise great caution in either mandating the use of, or over-relying on, these tools even for the important purpose of reducing harms. Although outside of our scope, this conclusion implies that, if AI is not the answer and if the scale makes meaningful human oversight infeasible, we must look at other ways, regulatory or otherwise, to address the spread of these harms."
United States. Federal Trade Commission
Atleson, Michael
2022-06-16
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North Korea: Legislative Basis for U.S. Economic Sanctions [Updated June 16, 2022]
From the Summary: "U.S. economic sanctions imposed on North Korea are instigated by that country's activities related to weapons proliferation, especially its tests since 2006 of nuclear weapons and missile technology; regional disruptions; international terrorism; narcotics trafficking; undemocratic governance; and illicit activities in international markets, including money laundering, counterfeiting of goods and currency, and bulk cash smuggling. [...] In addition to economic and diplomatic restrictions on the U.S.-North Korea bilateral relationship, other states' failure or resistance to comply with Security Council requirements, sanctions evasion, and transactions with persons and entities subject to U.S. sanctions as part of the United States' policy toward North Korea invites the United States to impose 'secondary sanctions'. Third parties--individuals, entities, or governments--may find their U.S.-based assets blocked, transactions and contracts with U.S. persons prohibited, use of the U.S. financial system denied, and U.S. support in the international financial institutions curtailed."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Rennack, Dianne E.
2022-06-16
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Challenges of the Current USCIS Fee-Setting Structure: Recommendation 63
From the Document: "U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) employs over 20,000 persons, operates in more than 200 offices and other facilities throughout the United States and abroad, and has an annual budget averaging over $4 billion since 2018. USCIS operates on a fee-for-service funding model, with approximately 97 percent of its budget funded by the filing fees it collects. By statute, the agency is required to set its fees at a level to ensure that it recovers the full costs of providing the benefits requested. To adjust its filing fees, USCIS follows the Administrative Procedure Act rulemaking process. Before it may implement new fees, it must first announce the proposed fees in the Federal Register and explain why it needs to make the adjustments sought. The process gives the public an opportunity to comment on the proposal, and USCIS must respond to all reasonable and relevant comments. Invariably, this process is exceedingly slow. [...] The Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman) examined the USCIS funding model after observing the financial crisis and dysfunction that followed in the immediate wake of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, including the threat of furloughing much of its staff. While the agency ultimately avoided the furlough, it implemented austerity measures that significantly impaired its ability to fulfill its mission. In this formal recommendation, we identify the challenges in USCIS' current funding model and offer five recommendations to put the agency in a sound financial position to fulfill its important mission and meet its goals."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman
2022-06-15
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Threat of Transnational Repression from China and the U.S. Response
From the Webpage: "The Chinese Communist Party and government engage in transnational repression against Uyghurs, Hong Kongers, Tibetans, dissidents, and others in order to silence criticism, conduct surveillance, and in some cases repatriate critics and others deemed sensitive. Freedom House characterizes China's campaign of transnational repression as 'the most sophisticated, global, and comprehensive . . . in the world.' The Party and government use a variety of methods to engage in transnational repression, including the use of technology to surveil and harass victims abroad, threats to a victim's family or loved ones who still live in China, abuse of INTERPOL [International Criminal Police Organization] mechanisms to secure repatriations, and in-person intimidation and kidnapping overseas. This hearing will look at the administration's approach to countering China's transnational repression. The hearing will solicit administration witnesses' input regarding what steps their agencies have taken to counter China's transnational repression, how their agencies coordinate with interagency and international partners on the issue, and where they see opportunities for further action."
United States. Congressional-Executive Commission on China
2022-06-15
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Mexico: Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking Organizations [Updated June 7, 2022]
From the Introduction: "This report analyzes Mexico's criminal landscape, including pervasive violence and corruption. It also discusses categories of illicit drugs in Mexico and profiles nine major criminal organizations in Mexico, as well as the phenomena of fragmentation and competition among these major drug trafficking organizations (DTOs)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Beittel, June S.
2022-06-07
