1.This Act may be cited as the
Limiting the Intrusive Miles of
International Terrorist Sponsors Act of 2011
or the
LIMITS Act of
2011
.
2.Congress finds the following:
(1)Countries
designated as state sponsors of terrorism represent a threat to the national
security of the United States.
(2)The United States is obligated to permit
officials and other representatives of countries designated as state sponsors
of terrorism to travel to New York City to attend meetings and conduct official
business at the United Nations.
(3)Individuals from
countries not otherwise legally permitted to travel to the United States are
given visas for delegates and representatives to the United Nations and other
related diplomatic purposes.
(4)These delegates
and representatives are in addition to the number of domestically assigned
nationals living in the United States.
(5)Between January 1,
2004, and March 31, 2009, the Department of State issued, with full diplomatic
immunity, 2386 visas to delegates and representatives from Cuba, 2585 visas to
delegates and representatives from Iran, 2053 visas to delegates and
representatives from Sudan, 732 visas to delegates and representatives from
Syria, and 869 to delegates and representatives from other state sponsors of
terrorism.
(6)The delegates and
representatives from Iran and Cuba, which are state sponsors of terrorism, are
currently permitted to travel up to 25 miles from Columbus Circle in New York
City for United Nations activities, far beyond the necessary working vicinity
of the United Nations, giving them access not only to Manhattan, but to
surrounding cities and States.
(7)The delegates and
representatives from Syria and Sudan, both state sponsors of terrorism, are
currently permitted to travel throughout the United States without any mileage
restrictions.
(8)In June 2002,
November 2003, and June 2004, Iranian diplomatic personnel from the Iranian
Mission to the United Nations were caught photographing and videotaping the New
York City subway and other popular landmarks.
(9)The Department of
State expelled these individuals for being engaged in activities not consistent
with their duties.
(10)Issuing
approximately 8625 visas over the past 5 years to personnel from countries
designated as state sponsors of terrorism, without proper boundaries, creates a
major security vulnerability within the United States.
(11)The presence of
hundreds of individuals with diplomatic immunity from countries designated as
state sponsors of terrorism is overwhelming United States counterterrorism and
intelligence resources.
(12)The United States
has an obligation to protect the American people against such threats.
3.Restriction on
diplomatic travel of officials and representatives of state sponsors of
terrorism
(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and except as
provided in subsections (b) and (c), the President shall restrict to the
designated area the travel of officials and representatives of countries that
are designated as state sponsors of terrorism who are visiting the United
Nations headquarters complex in connection with official business at the United
Nations headquarters complex.
(b)The
President may waive the travel restriction described in subsection (a) if the
President—
(1)determines that it
is in the interest of national defense of the United States to do so;
and
(2)submits to
Congress a report that contains the reasons for such determination not later
than 30 days after the issuance of such waiver.
(c)
(1)For purposes of this
section, the restriction on travel referred to in subsection (a) shall not
include travel to and from John F. Kennedy International Airport or LaGuardia
Airport to the designated area in connection with official business at the
United Nations headquarters complex. Travel between the designated area and
such airports shall be direct and without any intervening stops.
(2)For purposes of this section, the
restriction on travel referred to in subsection (a) shall not include travel to
and from any lodgings or other hotel accommodations in which an official or
representative is staying if such lodging or other hotel accommodation is
within the designated area. Such permissible travel within the designated area
may be made only by land.
(3)For purposes of this section, the restriction on
travel referred to in subsection (a) shall not include travel to and from New
York University medical center or Bellevue Hospital Center for emergency
medical care.
(d)
(1)Nothing in this Act
shall be construed to prohibit the placement of additional restrictions by the
City of New York, the State of New York, or the law enforcement agencies of
such City or State on the travel within the designated area of officials and
representatives of countries that are designated as state sponsors of
terrorism.
(2)Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit
the placement by the President of additional restrictions on officials and
representatives of countries that are designated as state sponsors or
terrorism.
(e)This Act shall take effect on the date that is 60 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act.
(f)In
this Act:
(1)The term designated area
means an area not
greater than one-half of one mile (0.5 miles) in any direction on the island of
Manhattan from the United Nations headquarters complex, but does not include
any waterway.
(2)State sponsor of
terrorismThe term
state sponsor of terrorism
means a country the government of
which has been determined by the Secretary of State, for purposes of section
6(j) of the Export Administration Act of 1979, section 620A of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961, section 40 of the Arms Export Control Act, or other
provision of law, is a government that has repeatedly provided support for acts
of international terrorism.
(3)United Nations
Headquarters complexThe term United Nations headquarters
complex
means the complex of United Nations buildings located in the
City of New York, on First Avenue between 42nd Street and 48th Street, with the
street address of 760 United Nations Plaza.