Limiting Extremist Travel to the United Nations Act

This bill, the Limiting Extremist Travel to the United Nations Act, would require the Secretary of State to impose specific travel and access restrictions on certain foreign officials and United Nations (UN) officials when they attend UN meetings at the UN Headquarters in New York City. The restrictions target: (1) officials from Iran; (2) officials designated as having any formal association or membership with any Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), including political wings; and (3) officials of UN organizations that the United States is not a member of. For those subject to the travel restrictions, limits are placed on where they may be physically present during UN meetings (including the General Assembly), how long a visa can be valid around a UN GA, and, for non-member UN org officials, a geographic ban within a 25-mile radius of the UN HQ and prohibition on being at higher-education institutions within that radius. The bill includes route exceptions for security or accessibility concerns and makes clear the rules do not apply to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. It is introduced in the 119th Congress and referred to the Foreign Affairs and Judiciary committees. In essence, the bill would significantly curb the permissible movement and access of certain foreign officials at UN meetings in New York, aimed at limiting what it calls “extremist travel” and potentially reducing influence or contact with designated groups.