March 11, 2026
Mr. Cruz (for himself, Mr. Cotton, and Mr. Scott of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
To impose sanctions on the Polisario Front if it cooperates with an Iranian-affiliated terrorist organization.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Polisario Front Terrorist Designation Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Iranian-affiliated terrorist organization
The term Iranian-affiliated terrorist organization means an Iranian entity that has been designated as—
(A)
a foreign terrorist organization pursuant to section 219(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189(a)); or
(B)
a Specially Designated Global Terrorist pursuant to Executive Order 13224 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to blocking property and prohibiting transactions with persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism).
(2) Iranian entity
The term Iranian entity means any entity that is—
(A)
an Iranian person (as defined in section 6(f) of the Fight CRIME Act (division K of Public Law 118–50)); or
(B)
Hezbollah.
(3) Polisario front
The term Polisario Front means the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Río de Oro, which was founded on May 10, 1973, or any successor organization.
(4) Relevant congressional committees
The term relevant congressional committees means—
(A)
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
(B)
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
Sec. 3. Annual report
(a) In general
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the relevant congressional committees on cooperation between the Polisario Front and Iranian-affiliated terrorist organizations during the period specified in subsection (c).
(b) Required elements
Each report required under subsection (a) shall include a determination of whether, during the period specified in subsection (c), the Polisario Front provided or received from an Iranian-affiliated terrorist organization, including through intermediary parties—
(1)
armed support in military operations;
(2)
weapons systems, including man-portable, individual use firearms;
(3)
unmanned aerial vehicles, including commercially available component parts to such vehicles;
(4)
systems, platforms, or components designed to detect, track engage, or destroy airborne targets; or
(5)
military intelligence, including surveillance data, targeting information, signal or human intelligence, and any analysis derived from such sources, whether provided in raw or processed form.
(c) Period
The period specified in this subsection is—
(1)
with respect to the first report submitted pursuant to subsection (a), the period beginning 10 years before the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date on which such report is submitted; and
(2)
with respect to each subsequent report, the period beginning on the date on which the previous report was submitted and the date on which the new report is submitted.
(d) Form
The determination required under subsection (b) in the report required under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form.
Sec. 4. Sanctions
(a) In general
Not later than 30 days after the submission of each report required under section 3, in the case of a positive determination made pursuant to the determination required under subsection 3(b), the President shall impose the sanctions described in subsection (b).
(b) Sanctions described
The sanctions described in this subsection are—
(1)
designation as a foreign terrorist organization pursuant to section 219(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189(a)); and
(2)
imposition of the sanctions applicable with respect to a foreign person pursuant to Executive Order 13224 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to blocking property and prohibiting transactions with persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism).