A group of Republican senators, led by Sen. Ted Budd (R., N.C.) is introducing legislation to ban foreign nationals who persecute religious minorities from entering the United States.
Budd’s legislation, obtained exclusively by the Washington Reporter, the Banning Perpetrators of Religious Persecution Act, is cosponsored by Sens. Ted Cruz (R., Texas), Tom Cotton (R., Ark.), Jim Banks (R., Ind.), James Lankford (R., Okla.), John Kennedy (R., La.), Marsha Blackburn (R., Tenn.), and Ashley Moody (R., Fla.). The move amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), restricting visa issuance to individuals who have directed, authorized, significantly supported, participated in, or carried out violations of religious freedom.
“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,” Budd told the Reporter. “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.”
The legislation follows Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent move which allowed the State Department, under the INA, to restrict visa issuance to individuals who have committed violations of religious freedom. Rubio’s decision came after reports of Christians being slaughtered in Nigeria, but the policy is not limited to the perpetrators of that act of religious-based violence, which is a point that Cotton made to the Reporter.
“Any foreign official that is involved in the persecution of Christians, in Nigeria or anywhere else, has no business setting foot in the United States,” Cotton said. “This bill builds upon the decisive actions taken by Secretary of State Rubio and President Trump.”
Moody, Rubio’s fellow Floridian, noted that “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.”
For Lankford, a minister, the issue is personal. He told the Reporter that “religious freedom is a God-given right, and our nation should never open its doors to those who persecute people of faith. If you direct, support, or take part in religious persecution, you should never be allowed to enter the United States.”
Budd’s colleagues noted that they were excited to join him in pushing for this legislation. “Individuals who encourage or facilitate religious persecution, such as the persecution of Christians in Nigeria or Uyghurs in China, pose a threat to the safety and security of Americans and should not be allowed on American soil,” Cruz said of the efforts. “I am proud to join Senator Budd in introducing this bill.”
Should Budd’s legislation become law, it would require the Secretary of State to “make the names of all aliens determined to be inadmissible publicly accessible,” while also providing an “exception if the Secretary of State determines that the public release of the identity of such an alien would have adverse foreign policy consequences.”
The lawmakers noted that Rubio’s work is a great start, but they want to ensure he has all the tools needed at his disposal. “Secretary Rubio is doing the right thing by blocking the monsters who trample on other people’s religious liberty from receiving visas. Now, it’s up to Congress to make these important Trump administration reforms permanent,” Kennedy added. “I’m proud to help Senator Budd introduce the Banning Perpetrators of Religious Persecution Act to protect our country from those who don’t respect our First Amendment freedoms.”
Blackburn added that “the United States should not be a safe haven for those who persecute people of faith,” saying that “the Banning Perpetrators of Religious Persecution Act would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to bar visas for individuals who have directed, supported, or carried out violations of religious freedom.”
