‘Bar these malign actors’: Bill hopes to prevent foreigners who violate religious freedom from entering U.S.
Foreign individuals who have in any way participated in the violation of religious freedoms soon could find themselves barred from entry into the United States.
That’s under a plan being developed by Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla.
“Our great country was founded on protecting the God-given rights of man. Our nation’s Constitution guarantees it. I am proud to support the Banning Perpetrators of Religious Persecution Act which prevents religious terrorists and oppressors of Christians and other religious minorities from ever entering our great nation,” she confirmed.
Her plan would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act by restricting the issuance of visas to individuals who have “directed, authorized, significantly supported, participated in, or carried out violations of religious freedom.”
It also would make terrorists or non-state actors responsible for violations of religious freedom ineligible for visas.
Joining the effort is Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., who said, “Nigeria is just one of many examples where non-state actors and terrorist groups are carrying out kidnappings and killings of Christians and other religious minorities. It is entirely unacceptable for the U.S., a nation founded on the principle of religious freedom, to allow such foreign nationals into our country.
“By codifying the Trump administration’s directive to bar these malign actors from obtaining U.S. visas, we are establishing robust consequences for violators and sending a loud and clear message to the rest of the world that America will not tolerate any attack on religious freedom.”
Other supporters include Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Jim Banks, R-Ind., John Kennedy, R-La., James Lankford, R-Okla., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio already had begun the work, announcing in December a policy that allows the U.S. Department of State to restrict visa issuance to individuals who have committed violations of religious freedom.
While this decision came in response to reports of brutal killings and violence against religious minorities in Nigeria, the policy implemented by the Trump administration could apply to any foreign individual who is directly responsible for or involved with severe violations of religious persecution.
The legislation would codify plans adopted by Rubio to address those inflicting religious rights injuries around the world and requires the Secretary of State to make the names of all aliens determined to be inadmissible publicly accessible.