Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List

The Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, also known as the SDN List, is a United States government sanctions/embargo measure targeting U.S.-designated terrorists, officials and beneficiaries of governments that are the U.S.'s enemies, and international criminals (e.g. drug traffickers).^{[citation needed]} The list is administered by the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).^[1] When individuals are added to the list of Specially Designated Nationals (SDN), their U.S. assets are blocked. Moreover, their names are added to automated screening systems used by banks in the United States and many foreign countries, making it difficult for them to open or hold accounts, transfer money, or transact properties internationally.^[2] Any individual or entity that provides support related to terrorism, drug trafficking or unauthorized military use to any person or entity appearing on the SDN list risks being penalized under the USA PATRIOT Act.^[3]

The SDN list contains tens of thousands^[4] of individuals and entities that have been identified as posing threats to U.S. national security and foreign policy.^[5] All individuals and entities within the U.S. are prohibited from doing business with them or are subject to sanctions for violating the law. Financial sanctions include a ban on investment in the stock of the blacklisted individuals and entities in which the blacklisted individuals have a controlling interest, and a ban on new debt (including all securities such as bonds, credits, bills of exchange, etc.) with a maturity of more than 90 days. After the 2014 annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, the U.S. blacklisted a number of Russian and Crimean companies for sanctions.^[6] Almost every country is represented on the list.^[7]