Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Persons in Syria

Oct 17, 2019

Summary

Allows the U.S. to block money and stop entry for people who are making the situation in Syria worse, especially those from Turkey.

What problem does this solve?

Turkey's military actions in northeast Syria threaten regional peace and the fight against ISIS. This order gives the U.S. government tools to pressure those responsible by freezing their money and banning them from the country.

What does this order do?

Declares a national emergency

States that Turkey's military actions in Syria are an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.

Blocks property and money

Freezes all property and money in the U.S. belonging to people or groups involved in threatening Syria's peace, committing human rights abuses, or connected to the Turkish government.

Suspends entry into the United States

Stops any person sanctioned under this order from entering the U.S. as an immigrant or nonimmigrant.

Authorizes sanctions on Turkish officials and sectors

Allows the Secretary of the Treasury to sanction current or former Turkish government officials and people operating in certain sectors of the Turkish economy.

Punishes foreign banks for helping sanctioned people

Permits the Secretary of the Treasury to punish foreign banks that knowingly handle large financial deals for anyone whose property is blocked by this order.

Prohibits donations

Bans the donation of items like food, clothing, and medicine to any person whose property is blocked under this order.

Who does this affect?

Turkish government officials and agencies
Individuals and groups involved in the Syrian conflict
Foreign financial institutions

What is the real world impact?

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Pressures Turkey to change its military actions

Uses economic and travel sanctions as a tool to discourage the Turkish government and its officials from continuing their military offensive in northeast Syria.

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Disrupts financial support for harmful activities

Blocks the money and property of people and groups that threaten peace in Syria, making it harder for them to operate.

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Grants broad power to government agencies

Gives the Secretaries of Treasury and State wide authority to decide who to sanction, which could be used against many parts of the Turkish economy and government.

When does this start?

This executive order took effect immediately on October 14, 2019.