Executive Order in Response to Venezuela's Human Rights Violations

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March 10, 2015

    President Obama implemented an Executive Order on March 9, 2015 as a response to Venezuela’s government corruption and human rights violations.  The Executive Order uses the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 and adds additional sanctions.  The sanctions in the Executive Order target government officials involved in the “erosion of human rights guarantees, persecution of political opponents, curtailment of press freedoms, use of violence and human rights violations and abuses in response to antigovernment protests, and arbitrary arrest and detention of antigovernment protestors, as well as the exacerbating presence of significant public corruption.”  The Department of Treasury in conjunction with the Department of State will also have discretion to target other individuals who commit violations listed in the Executive Order.

    This Order was implemented due to the “threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.”  Members of the Venezuelan government meeting the Order’s criteria cannot enter the U.S. and they will see their property in the U.S. “blocked or frozen.” Additionally, individuals in the U.S. are barred from conducting business with officials meeting the Order’s criteria.  The White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest commented on the Venezuelan human rights violations, “The only way to solve Venezuela’s problems is through real dialogue — not detaining opponents and attempting to silence critics.”  However, Earnest stated that the U.S. “remains committed to maintaining our strong and lasting ties with the people of Venezuela and is open to improving our relationship with the Venezuelan government.”

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