USC Subchapter II

USC Subchapter II
in effect

22 U.S.C. § 9121 Response to international child abductions

(a) United States policyIt is the policy of the United States—(1) to promote the best interest of children wrongfully abducted from the United States by—(A) establishing legal rights and procedures for their prompt return; and (B) ensuring the enforcement of reciprocal international obligations under the Hague Abduction Convention or arrangements under bilateral procedures; (2) to promote the timely resolution of abduction cases through 1 or more of the actions described in section 9122 of this title; and (3) to ensure appropriate coordination within the Federal Government and between Federal, State, and local agencies involved in abduction prevention, investigation, and resolution. (b) Actions by the Secretary of State in response to unresolved cases(1) Determination of action by the Secretary of StateFor each abduction or access case relating to a child whose habitual residence is in the United States that remains pending or is otherwise unresolved on the date that is 12 months after the date on which the Central Authority of the United States submits such case to a foreign country, the Secretary of State shall determine whether the government of such foreign country has failed to take appropriate steps to resolve the case. If the Secretary of State determines that such failure occurred, the Secretary should, as expeditiously as practicable—(A) take 1 or more of the actions described in subsections (d) and (e) of section 9122 of this title; and (B) direct the Chief of Mission in that foreign country to directly address the resolution of the case with senior officials in the foreign government. (2) Authority for delay of action by the Secretary of StateThe Secretary of State may delay any action described in paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines that an additional period of time, not to exceed 1 year, will substantially assist in resolving the case. (3) ReportIf the Secretary of State delays any action pursuant to paragraph (2) or decides not to take an action described in subsection (d) or (e) of section 9122 of this title after making the determination described in paragraph (1), the Secretary, not later than 15 days after such delay or decision, shall provide a report to the appropriate congressional committees that details the reasons for delaying action or not taking action, as appropriate. (4) Congressional briefingsAt the request of the appropriate congressional committees, the Secretary of State shall provide a detailed briefing, including a written report, if requested, on actions taken to resolve a case or the cause for delay. (c) Implementation(1) In generalIn carrying out subsection (b), the Secretary of State should—(A) take 1 or more actions that most appropriately respond to the nature and severity of the governmental failure to resolve the unresolved abduction case; and (B) seek, to the fullest extent possible—(i) to initially respond by communicating with the Central Authority of the country; and (ii) if clause (i) is unsuccessful, to target subsequent actions—(I) as narrowly as practicable, with respect to the agencies or instrumentalities of the foreign government that are responsible for such failures; and (II) in ways that respect the separation of powers and independence of the judiciary of the country, as applicable. (2) Guidelines for actions by the Secretary of StateIn addition to the guidelines under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State, in determining whether to take 1 or more actions under paragraphs (5) through (7) of section 9122(d) of this title or section 9122(e) of this title, shall seek to minimize any adverse impact on—(A) the population of the country whose government is targeted by the action or actions; (B) the humanitarian activities of United States and nongovernmental organizations in the country; and (C) the national security interests of the United States. (d) Action in the case of abducted children who reach the age of 16When an individual who is an abducted child attains 16 years of age, a consular officer from a United States diplomatic mission in the country in which such individual resides shall, until either the left-behind parent seeking assistance or the individual (after attaining 18 years of age) requests the officer to cease, annually attempt to contact such individual, through welfare and whereabout visits and by engaging other agencies and foreign counterparts as necessary, to provide information, as relevant, on rights and privileges as a United States citizen, such as passports, and any eligible benefits from left-behind parent, such as G.I. educational and health benefits and to obtain a verified location of such individual.

22 U.S.C. § 9122 Actions by the Secretary of State in response to patterns of noncompliance in cases of international child abductions

(a) Response to a pattern of noncomplianceIt is the policy of the United States—(1) to oppose institutional or other systemic failures of foreign governments to fulfill their obligations pursuant to the Hague Abduction Convention or bilateral procedures, as applicable, to resolve abduction and access cases; (2) to promote reciprocity pursuant to, and in compliance with, the Hague Abduction Convention or bilateral procedures, as appropriate; and (3) to directly engage with senior foreign government officials to most effectively address patterns of noncompliance. (b) Determination of countries with patterns of noncompliance in cases of international child abduction(1) Annual reviewNot later than April 30 of each year, the Secretary of State shall—(A) review the status of abduction and access cases in each foreign country in order to determine whether the government of such country has engaged in a pattern of noncompliance during the preceding 12 months; and (B) report such determination pursuant to section 9111(f) of this title. (2) Determinations of responsible partiesThe Secretary of State shall seek to determine the agencies or instrumentalities of the government of each country determined to have engaged in a pattern of noncompliance under paragraph (1)(A) that are responsible for such pattern of noncompliance—(A) to appropriately target actions in response to such noncompliance; and (B) to engage with senior foreign government officials to effectively address such noncompliance. (c) Actions by the Secretary of State with respect to a country with a pattern of noncompliance(1) In generalNot later than 90 days (or 180 days in case of a delay under paragraph (2)) after a country is determined to have been engaged in a pattern of noncompliance under subsection (b)(1)(A), the Secretary of State shall—(A) take 1 or more of the actions described in subsection (d); (B) direct the Chief of Mission in that country to directly address the systemic problems that led to such determination; and (C) inform senior officials in the foreign government of the potential repercussions related to such designation. (2) Authority for delay of actions by the Secretary of StateThe Secretary shall not be required to take action under paragraph (1) until the expiration of a single, additional period of up to 90 days if, on or before the date on which the Secretary of State is required to take such action, the Secretary determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that such additional period is necessary—(A) for a continuation of negotiations that have been commenced with the government of a country described in paragraph (1) in order to bring about a cessation of the pattern of noncompliance by such country; (B) for a review of corrective action taken by a country after the designation of such country as being engaged in a pattern of noncompliance under subsection (b)(1)(A); or (C) in anticipation that corrective action will be taken by such country during such 90-day period. (3) Exception for additional action by the Secretary of StateThe Secretary of State shall not be required to take additional action under paragraph (1) with respect to a country determined to have been engaged in a persistent pattern of noncompliance if the Secretary—(A) has taken action pursuant to paragraph (5), (6), or (7) of subsection (d) with respect to such country in the preceding year and such action continues to be in effect; (B) exercises the waiver under section 9124 of this title and briefs the appropriate congressional committees; or (C) submits a report to the appropriate congressional committees that—(i) indicates that such country is subject to multiple, broad-based sanctions; and (ii) describes how such sanctions satisfy the requirements under this subsection. (4) Report to CongressNot later than 90 days after the submission of the Annual Report, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the specific actions taken against countries determined to have been engaged in a pattern of noncompliance under this section. (d) Description of actions by the Secretary of State in Hague Abduction Convention countriesExcept as provided in subsection (f), the actions by the Secretary of State referred to in this subsection are—(1) a demarche; (2) an official public statement detailing unresolved cases; (3) a public condemnation; (4) a delay or cancellation of 1 or more bilateral working, official, or state visits; (5) the withdrawal, limitation, or suspension of United States development assistance in accordance with section 116 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n); (6) the withdrawal, limitation, or suspension of United States security assistance in accordance with section 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2304); (7) the withdrawal, limitation, or suspension of assistance to the central government of a country pursuant to chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2346 et seq.; relating to the Economic Support Fund); and (8) a formal request to the foreign country concerned to extradite an individual who is engaged in abduction and who has been formally accused of, charged with, or convicted of an extraditable offense. (e) Commensurate action(1) In generalExcept as provided in subsection (f), the Secretary of State may substitute any other action authorized by law for any action described in subsection (d) if the Secretary determines that such action—(A) is commensurate in effect to the action substituted; and (B) would substantially further the purposes of this chapter. (2) NotificationIf commensurate action is taken pursuant to this subsection, the Secretary shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that—(A) describes such action; (B) explains the reasons for taking such action; and (C) specifically describes the basis for the Secretary’s determination under paragraph (1) that such action—(i) is commensurate with the action substituted; and (ii) substantially furthers the purposes of this chapter. (f) ResolutionThe Secretary of State shall seek to take all appropriate actions authorized by law to resolve the unresolved case or to obtain the cessation of such pattern of noncompliance, as applicable. (g) Humanitarian exceptionAny action taken pursuant to subsection (d) or (e) may not prohibit or restrict the provision of medicine, medical equipment or supplies, food, or other life-saving humanitarian assistance. (h) Study of international parental child abduction(1) Study requiredNot later than 1 year after December 23, 2024, the Secretary of State, subject to the availability of funds, shall seek to enter into an agreement with an appropriate university, research institution, or nongovernmental organization to study and publish a report on the impact to abducted children and left-behind parents as a result of international parental child abduction. (2) ConsultationThe Secretary of State shall consult with the appropriate congressional committees on the goals of the study and report required under paragraph (1). (3) Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 and 2026 to carry out the study required under paragraph (1).

22 U.S.C. § 9123 Consultations with foreign governments

As soon as practicable after the Secretary of State makes a determination under section 9121 of this title in response to a failure to resolve unresolved abduction cases or the Secretary takes an action under subsection (d) or (e) of section 9122 of this title, based on a pattern of noncompliance, the Secretary shall request consultations with the government of such country regarding the situation giving rise to such determination.

22 U.S.C. § 9124 Waiver by the Secretary of State

(a) In generalSubject to subsection (b), the Secretary of State may waive the application of any of the actions described in subsections (d) and (e) of section 9122 of this title with respect to a country if the Secretary determines and notifies the appropriate congressional committees that—(1) the government of such country—(A) has satisfactorily resolved the abduction cases giving rise to the application of any of such actions; or (B) has ended such country’s pattern of noncompliance; or (2) the national security interest of the United States requires the exercise of such waiver authority. (b) Congressional notificationNot later than the date on which the Secretary of State exercises the waiver authority under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—(1) notify the appropriate congressional committees of such waiver; and (2) provide such committees with a detailed justification for such waiver, including an explanation of the steps the noncompliant government has taken—(A) to resolve abductions cases; or (B) to end its pattern of noncompliance. (c) Publication in Federal RegisterSubject to subsection (d), the Secretary of State shall ensure that each waiver determination under this section—(1) is published in the Federal Register; or (2) is posted on the Department of State website. (d) Limited disclosure of informationThe Secretary of State may limit the publication of information under subsection (c) in the same manner and to the same extent as the President may limit the publication of findings and determinations described in section 2414(c) of this title, if the Secretary determines that the publication of such information would be harmful to the national security of the United States and would not further the purposes of this chapter.

22 U.S.C. § 9125 Termination of actions by the Secretary of State

Any specific action taken under this Act or any amendment made by this Act with respect to a foreign country shall terminate on the date on which the Secretary of State submits a written certification to Congress that the government of such country— (1) has resolved any unresolved abduction case that gave rise to such specific action; or (2) has taken substantial and verifiable steps to correct such country’s persistent pattern of noncompliance that gave rise to such specific action, as applicable.

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