S. 1472 – Reading Mode

One Hundred Eleventh Congress of the United States of America

1st Session

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, the sixth day of January, two thousand and nine

S. 1472

AN ACT

To establish a section within the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice to enforce human rights laws, to make technical and conforming amendments to criminal and immigration laws pertaining to human rights violations, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Human Rights Enforcement Act of 2009.

Section to enforce human rights laws

(a)

Repeal

Section 103(h) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1103(h)) is repealed.

(b)

Section To enforce human rights laws

Chapter 31 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 509A the following:

509B.

Section to enforce human rights laws

(a)

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of the Human Rights Enforcement Act of 2009, the Attorney General shall establish a section within the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice with responsibility for the enforcement of laws against suspected participants in serious human rights offenses.

(b)

The section established under subsection (a) is authorized to—

(1)

take appropriate legal action against individuals suspected of participating in serious human rights offenses; and

(2)

coordinate any such legal action with the United States Attorney for the relevant jurisdiction.

(c)

The Attorney General shall, as appropriate, consult with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State.

(d)

In determining the appropriate legal action to take against individuals who are suspected of committing serious human rights offenses under Federal law, the section shall take into consideration the availability of criminal prosecution under the laws of the United States for such offenses or in a foreign jurisdiction that is prepared to undertake a prosecution for the conduct that forms the basis for such offenses.

(e)

The term serious human rights offenses includes violations of Federal criminal laws relating to genocide, torture, war crimes, and the use or recruitment of child soldiers under sections 1091, 2340, 2340A, 2441, and 2442 of title 18, United States Code.

(c)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 31 of the title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 509A the following:

Sec. 509B. Section to enforce human rights laws.

Technical and conforming amendments

(a)

Genocide

Section 1091 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)—

(A)

by striking , in a circumstance described in subsection (d); and

(B)

by striking or attempts to do so,;

(2)

in subsection (c), by striking in a circumstance described in subsection (d);

(3)

by striking subsection (d) and (e); and

(4)

by inserting after subsection (c) the following:

(d)

Attempt and conspiracy

Any person who attempts or conspires to commit an offense under this section shall be punished in the same manner as a person who completes the offense.

(e)

Jurisdiction

There is jurisdiction over the offenses described in subsections (a), (c), and (d) if—

(1)

the offense is committed in whole or in part within the United States; or

(2)

regardless of where the offense is committed, the alleged offender is—

(A)

a national of the United States (as that term is defined in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101));

(B)

an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States (as that term is defined in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101));

(C)

a stateless person whose habitual residence is in the United States; or

(D)

present in the United States.

(f)

Nonapplicability of certain limitations

Notwithstanding section 3282, in the case of an offense under this section, an indictment may be found, or information instituted, at any time without limitation.

(b)

Immigration and Nationality Act

Section 212(a)(3)(E)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(E)(ii)) is amended by striking conduct outside the United States that would, if committed in the United States or by a United States national, be.

(c)

Applicability

The amendments made by subsections (b), (c), and (d) of the Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–340) shall apply to offenses committed before, on, or after the date of the enactment of the Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2008.

(d)

Material support for genocide or child soldier recruitment

Section 2339A(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by—

(1)

inserting , 1091 after 956; and

(2)

striking , or 2340A and inserting , 2340A, or 2442.

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate