All USCNL Resources

Published October 2026 18 U.S.C. § 951 is a criminal statute that requires that anyone who acts as an agent of a foreign government in the U.S. first notify the U.S. Attorney General. 18 U.S.C. § 951 is sometimes confused ...

Published September 2026 We are excited to announce that ICNL’s U.S. Program is now the U.S. Center for Nonprofit Law (USCNL). This represents an important milestone in our work to create a legal environment that protects nonprofits and civic participation ...

Published August 2026 Members of Congress have recently urged the IRS to investigate nonprofits for alleged violations of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and other federal laws. The FBI and the IRS have also reportedly launched a joint initiative to ...

This briefer examines recent state laws authorizing the designation of domestic organizations as “terrorist” entities. It explains how these laws may affect U.S. nonprofits and their supporters and discusses constitutional concerns these laws raise. In 2026, lawmakers in several states ...

This briefer describes the dangers the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) poses to U.S. nonprofits and the need for comprehensive FARA reform. FARA is a World War II era anti-propaganda statute that requires an “agent of a foreign principal” engaged in ...

This briefer provides an overview of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and shares steps nonprofits can take to navigate the Act. It is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. FARA was enacted in 1938 in ...

Federal law does not have a standalone offense of “domestic terrorism.” Federal law does, however, contain terrorism-related provisions that can cover domestic actors. Examples include the offense of providing material support for terrorism and increased penalties for certain crimes if ...

The U.S. Program of the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) submitted these comments in September 2025 in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) from the Education Department on proposed amendments to the implementing regulations for the Public ...

On November 5, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the advanced implementation of new rules governing conduct around federal property. Unlike prior rules, which applied only to people on federal property, the new DHS rules extend to conduct ...

Published: September 2025 The Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act was enacted in 1970 to combat organized crime syndicates like the Mafia. Over the years, however, prosecutors have used its broad provisions against a range of other actors, ...