New 'Sanction Sea Pirates Act' Mandates Asset Freezes and Visa Bans on Anyone Involved in Piracy

The newly proposed Sanction Sea Pirates Act of 2025 is a direct response to the recent uptick in maritime attacks, especially those off the Somali Coast and in the Gulf of Aden. The bill doesn't just condemn piracy; it mandates that the President use the full force of U.S. financial and immigration law to punish anyone deemed to be "knowingly involved" in it, citing the chaos caused by Houthi aggression as a catalyst for the return of Somali pirates.

The Financial Hammer: Asset Freezes and Executive Power

This bill gives the President some serious new tools, primarily through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). If the President determines a foreign person or group is involved in piracy, their U.S.-based assets—and any assets under the control of a U.S. person—must be frozen. This isn't just a standard IEEPA application; the bill specifically allows the President to override certain standard IEEPA requirements to make these freezes happen fast and hard (SEC. 4). This means if you’re a foreign national or entity targeted by this, your access to U.S. financial systems could vanish overnight, with less built-in regulatory oversight than usual.

For the average person, this is about securing the supply chain. When shipping lanes get dangerous, insurance costs and shipping delays go up, and eventually, those costs get passed down to you at the store. This bill aims to hit the people funding and organizing these attacks where it hurts: their wallets.

Automatic Travel Bans and Due Process Concerns

Beyond the financial penalties, the bill institutes automatic travel restrictions (SEC. 4). If the Secretary of State or Homeland Security suspects an alien is involved in piracy, that person is immediately inadmissible to the U.S. If they already have a visa, it must be revoked immediately, canceling any other entry documents they might hold. This is a big deal because the bar for entry is lowered to mere suspicion of involvement.

This speed and severity raise some questions about due process. The bill also includes a provision allowing classified evidence used to justify sanctions to be shown privately to a reviewing judge (ex parte and in camera), meaning the sanctioned individual or group might never get to see the full evidence against them in court. While the goal is to protect intelligence sources, it reduces transparency for those facing severe penalties.

Important Carve-Outs and Presidential Waivers

In a nod to global stability, the sanctions cannot stop the sale of food, medicine, or agricultural goods, or interfere with humanitarian assistance (SEC. 4). This is a crucial exemption that ensures the fight against piracy doesn't accidentally block necessary aid to vulnerable populations.

However, the President also retains significant power to waive these sanctions entirely. If the President determines a waiver is “crucial for U.S. national security interests,” they can lift the sanctions after only notifying the House and Senate foreign relations committees 15 days in advance (SEC. 4). This means that even a fully sanctioned pirate could potentially get a pass if the White House decides it’s strategically necessary, giving the executive branch a lot of flexibility—and power—in enforcement.