Introduced on March 13, 2014 | Number of co-sponsors 4 | |
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Full title A bill to impose targeted sanctions on persons responsible for violations of human rights of antigovernment protesters in Venezuela, to strengthen civil society in Venezuela, and for other purposes. Sponsored by Rep. Robert Menendez (D, NJ-13) | ||
The Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 (S. 2142) is a United States law used to impose targeted sanctions on certain individuals in Venezuela that were responsible for violations of human rights of antigovernment protesters during the 2014 Venezuelan protests. The law is also used to strengthen civil society in Venezuela, and for other purposes.
Contents
Procedural history
The bill was introduced by Senator Robert Menendez on March 13, 2014. It was then passed by the Senate on December 7, 2014 and passed the House on December 10, 2014 to be signed into law by President Barack Obama. On December 18, 2014, President Obama signed the bill into law.
Actions
On February 2, 2015, the United States Department of State imposed visa restrictions on current and former Venezuelan officials that were allegedly linked to presumed human rights abuses and political corruption. The visa restrictions also included family members of those involved in the allegations, with the Department of State saying, "We are sending a clear message that human rights abusers, those who profit from public corruption, and their families are not welcome in the United States".
March 2015
On March 9, 2015, President Obama ordered the United States Department of the Treasury to freeze property and assets of the following:
List of sanctioned individuals
Those listed for possible sanctions include: