Redesignation of Foreign Terrorist Organizations

The Secretary of State has redesignated two groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations under U.S. law effective today: Jaish e-Mohammed and Lashkar e-Tayyiba.  The initial designations of these groups in 2001 are due to expire on December 26, 2003.  By redesignating Jaish e-Mohammed and Lashkar e-Tayyiba as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and publishing that decision today in the Federal Register, we preserve the U.S. Government’s ability to take action against them in accordance with the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended.  This act makes it illegal for persons in the United States or subject to U.S. jurisdiction to provide material support to these terrorist groups.  It requires U.S. financial institutions to block assets held by them; and it enables us to deny visas to representatives of these groups.  The Secretary made this decision in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury after a thorough review of these groups’ terrorist activities over the past two years.  In addition, in consultation with the Attorney General, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary has amended the designations of Jaish e-Mohammed and Lashkar e-Tayyiba under Executive Order 13224 to add new aliases currently in use by these terrorist organizations.