Government Sanctions Lists

(OFAC/Patriot Act) - DISA’s government sanctions list checks, also known as Patriot Act searches, screen applicants against global watchlists to ensure compliance and prevent hiring prohibited individuals.

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Verifying Applicants Aren't Prohibited from Working in Your Industry

A government sanctions list search will check various government sanctions databases to ensure that an individual is not prohibited from certain activities or industries. Certain safety-sensitive positions require this search to be performed to ensure that the applicant is not a known or suspected terrorist and will provide employers with information pertaining to any individuals who are listed on government watch lists. Common industries that perform these types of checks include healthcare, financial services, oil and gas, and government contractors.

A government sanctions list search helps to identify criminal activities, such as terrorism, weapons proliferation, narcotics trafficking, human rights violations, violation of international treaties, and money laundering. Depending on the nature of the position or industry to which the applicant is applying, this search might be a requirement.

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DISA's Process

DISA refers to this type of search as a Patriot Act Search, which was passed in 2001 in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks to improve the abilities of U.S. law enforcement in detecting and deterring terrorism. This act simply expanded the processes that were already in place for drug dealers and organized crime. When conducting a Patriot Act search, DISA includes the following types of databases:

  • Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) & Blocked Persons
  • OFAC Sanctioned Countries, Including Major Cities & Ports
  • Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories
  • Department of State Trade Control (DTC) Debarred Parties
  • U.S. Bureau of Industry & Security (formerly BXA)
  • Unverified Entities List
  • Denied Entities List
  • Denied Persons List
  • FBI Most Wanted Terrorists & Seeking Information
  • FBI Top Ten Most Wanted
  • INTERPOL Most Wanted List
  • Bank of England Sanctions List
  • OSFI - Canadian Sanctions List
  • United Nations Consolidated Sanctions List
  • Politically Exposed Persons List
  • European Union Terrorism List
  • World Bank Ineligible Firms
  • Unauthorized Banks
  • Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
  • FBI Most Wanted

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