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HR 1778 113th Congress House

Jacob's Law of 2013

Official title: To mandate training of members of the Foreign Service to protect the rights of United States citizens in the custody of foreign governments, to deny entry into… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To mandate training of members of the Foreign Service to protect the rights of United States citizens in the custody of foreign governments, to deny entry into the United States of officials of any foreign government, including their immediate family members, who commit or who fail to rectify fundamental due process and human rights violations of United States citizens in the custody of a foreign government, and for other purposes.

Introduced: April 26, 2013 Introduced by: Smith, Christopher H. Republican · New Jersey See on congress.gov
International Affairs BoliviaCongressional oversightDepartment of StateDetention of persons
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadDue process and equal protectionFamily relationshipsForeign aid and international reliefGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesHuman rightsImmigration status and proceduresIntelligence activities, surveillance, classified informationInternational law and treatiesLatin AmericaSanctionsTravel and tourismVisas and passports
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This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 14, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
May 23, 2013
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E738-739)
Apr 26, 2013
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Apr 26, 2013
Introduced in House
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 Latest action June 14, 2013

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Justice for Imprisoned Americans Overseas Act of 2013 or Jacob's Law of 2013 - Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to include in the Foreign Service professional development program training to protect the rights of U.S. citizens in foreign custody.

Directs the Secretary of State to submit a semiannnual report to Congress for five years that identifies: (1) U.S. citizens imprisoned in foreign countries whose fundamental due process and human rights are being violated, (2) the due process and human rights violations that are being committed against such U.S. citizens, and (3) the government officials who are responsible for such violations or who are not fulfilling their official responsibility to protect such rights.

Prohibits the Secretary of State from issuing any visa to, and the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) from permitting entry to the United States of, any such identified official and his or her immediate family members. Makes such ban permanent if an identified U.S. citizen dies while in foreign custody.

Prohibits foreign assistance from being provided to an agency or other entity of a foreign government that is responsible for the violation of, or is failing to protect, the fundamental due process or human rights of an imprisoned U.S. citizen.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1
D
Velázquez, Nydia M.
New York · Apr 26, 2013
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1778: Jacob's Law of 2013. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1778/
MLA
"H.R. 1778: Jacob's Law of 2013." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1778/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1778, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1778/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1778: Jacob's Law of 2013](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1778/)
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