New Act Mandates Visa Bans and Sanctions for Anyone Affiliated with Broadly Defined 'Muslim Brotherhood' Entities

This bill, the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025, makes sweeping changes to U.S. counterterrorism law by formally designating the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) and its affiliates as terrorist organizations. It updates the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987, specifically adding the MB alongside groups like the PLO. The core of the bill mandates that the President impose sanctions on the MB and its branches, citing the group’s connection to Hamas and alleged destabilization efforts against U.S. allies in the Middle East (SEC. 2).

The Automatic Visa Revocation Clause

If you're a foreign national, this section is a game-changer. The bill creates a new rule making any individual determined to be an MB member ineligible for a U.S. visa or entry. More significantly, if the President, based on "credible evidence," determines someone is a member, the Secretary of State must immediately revoke any existing U.S. visa that person holds. Think about the engineer working in Dubai or the professor teaching in London who happens to be affiliated with a charity that, years ago, received a donation from a group now deemed an MB branch. Their visa could be canceled overnight, disrupting their life and work without much warning or immediate recourse (SEC. 2).

The Definition That Sweeps Wide

One of the biggest practical problems here is the definition of a "Muslim Brotherhood branch." It’s not just the main group; the law defines a branch as any "group, charity, or organization that the Muslim Brotherhood directly or indirectly owns, controls, or is affiliated with." This definition is extremely broad. It potentially allows the U.S. government to sanction and target hundreds of organizations globally, including schools, community centers, and non-profits that might have a distant or historical connection to the MB, even if they aren't involved in terrorism today (SEC. 2).

Mandatory Sanctions and Annual Check-Ups

This bill doesn't just suggest sanctions; it mandates them. Within 90 days of the law passing, the President must impose sanctions on the MB itself. Furthermore, the Secretary of State must submit an annual report to Congress listing every single MB branch globally. If the Secretary reports that a branch meets the criteria for a terrorist designation, the President must impose sanctions within 30 days. Once those sanctions are triggered, they cannot be lifted for a minimum of four years (SEC. 3).

This mandatory, four-year sanction period is a significant shift because it removes executive flexibility. In the past, administrations could adjust sanctions based on changing geopolitical circumstances or if a group reformed. Under this law, if a charity in Europe is deemed an MB branch and sanctioned, that designation is locked in for four years, regardless of what happens on the ground. For U.S. citizens or businesses that might rely on these entities for legitimate work—say, a construction firm partnering with a local community development group overseas—it introduces significant compliance risk and potential disruption.