Blow the Truth

 Xinjiang YouTube Photo The United States has prohibited import of all products made in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region unless importers show the products are not made with forced labor. President Biden signed the  Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act  into law on December 23, 2021, expanding prohibitions on products made with forced labor in Xinjiang. “We will continue doing everything we can to restore the dignity of those who yearn to be free from forced labor,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said December 23. “We call on the Government of the People’s Republic of China to immediately end genocide and crimes against humanity.” While the United States  previously issued Withhold Release Orders against certain goods  produced in Xinjiang, the new law requires importers to show products from Xinjiang were not made with forced labor. Additionally, the Forced Labor Prevention Act: Authorizes new sanctions against PRC officials responsible for forced labor. ...

ISIS T oday, the United States is designating three individuals and one entity connected to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) to coincide with the 14th meeting of the Counter ISIS Finance Group, which plays a key role coordinating the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS’ efforts to disrupt the group’s generation and transfer of resources. Despite our defeat of ISIS’ territorial “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria, ISIS remains active and maintains connections to the financial system.  In countries throughout the Middle East, ISIS has relied on key money services business operators, like those designated today, that allow ISIS to obfuscate its transactions.  The Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS will continue to target ISIS’ illicit financial activities to include its disbursement of millions of dollars in cash reserves across the region. Alaa Khanfurah is being designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended, for having assisted in, sponsored, or provided financia...

The U.S. Department of State announced rewards up to $10 million each for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Seuxis Hernandez-Solarte, aka “Jesus Santrich,” and Luciano Marin Arango, aka “Ivan Marquez.”  Both are former senior leaders of the FARC who dropped out of the peace process and have a long history of involvement in drug trafficking activities, which resulted in their criminal indictments. The United States values its partnership with Colombia.  We will continue the strong U.S.-Colombian law enforcement information sharing and capacity building efforts which are essential to disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations operating in the region.  We also share Colombia’s concern that the Maduro regime is providing support to illegal armed groups from Colombia. These rewards are offered under the Department of State’s Narcotics Rewards Program (NRP).  More than 75 major narcotics traffickers have been brought to justic...