Banning Perpetrators of Religious Persecution Act of 2026
Summary
The Banning Perpetrators of Religious Persecution Act of 2026 aims to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act. It seeks to restrict visa issuance to individuals involved in violations of religious freedom. The bill mandates the Secretary of State to publicly list those deemed inadmissible, with an exception for cases where it would harm foreign policy.
Expected Effects
This act would likely lead to a decrease in the number of individuals who have violated religious freedom entering the United States. It could also impact diplomatic relations with countries where such violations occur. The public listing of names may deter future violations.
Potential Benefits
- Strengthens the U.S.'s commitment to religious freedom.
- May deter individuals from committing religious freedom violations.
- Provides a public record of individuals deemed inadmissible due to religious persecution.
- Could improve the international standing of the U.S. as a defender of religious freedom.
- Offers a mechanism to hold foreign government officials accountable for religious persecution.
Potential Disadvantages
- Could strain diplomatic relations with countries where religious freedom violations occur.
- The exception for foreign policy consequences could be subject to abuse.
- Public listing of names could lead to privacy concerns and potential for misidentification.
- May face challenges in accurately determining who is responsible for violations of religious freedom.
- Potential for retaliatory actions from other countries.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the First Amendment's guarantee of religious freedom by seeking to prevent those who violate it from entering the country. However, the public notice provision could potentially raise concerns related to due process and privacy, although it includes an exception for foreign policy reasons. The power to regulate immigration is generally considered within the purview of the federal government.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).