July 8, 2021—U.S. President Joe Biden extended a previous national emergency designation regarding the continued threat of transnational criminal organizations to U.S. national security and private interests. The White House’s announcement said transnational criminal organizations “continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.”
The order allows the U.S. government to block property of organizations involved in criminal activities in two or more countries.
Extension of Obama Executive Order
The declaration is actually a continuation of executive order 13581 first issued by President Barack Obama in 2011 and continued in 2016. That order named the following organizations: The Brothers’ Circle, Camorra, Yakuza and Los Zetas. President Donald Trump extended the authority and expanded it in 2019 to include a broader definition.
The executive order derives from the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which lets the president the levy economic sanctions against foreign powers that and individuals who pose an “unusual and extraordinary threat.”
Trump’s addition, Executive Order 13863, added language that had an eye on the increased sophistication of transnational criminals and the “ability of these organizations to derive revenue through widespread illegal conduct, including acts of violence and abuse that exhibit a wanton disregard for human life as well as many other crimes enriching and empowering these organizations.”
Ransomware
Meanwhile, today’s announcement came after a succession of ransomware attacks on U.S. industries, businesses, and utilities. After a series of ransomware attacks impacting hundreds of U.S. businesses on July 4, Biden directed U.S. intelligence authorities to investigate. He enacted an executive order on cybersecurity in May. And in June, Biden asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to work with the United States in tracking down criminals.
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