Washington (January 28, 2026) – Senator John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and six colleagues in introducing the Banning Perpetrators of Religious Persecution Act, which would bar foreign individuals who commit or support violations of religious freedom from obtaining U.S. visas.
“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. 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,” said Kennedy.
“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 US, 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 US 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,” said Budd.
This legislation would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to restrict visa issuance to individuals who have directed, authorized, supported, or carried out violations of religious freedom. It would also expand visa ineligibility to terrorist or non-state actors responsible for religious persecution, in addition to foreign government officials.
Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) cosponsored the legislation.
“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,” said Lankford.
“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. This bill builds upon the decisive actions taken by Secretary of State Rubio and President Trump,” said Cotton.
“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,” said Moody.
“The United States should not be a safe haven for those who persecute people of faith. 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,” said Blackburn.
Background:
In December 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new policy allowing the U.S. Department of State to restrict visa issuance to individuals who have committed severe violations of religious freedom.
The policy followed reports of brutal violence against religious minorities, including kidnappings and killings carried out by terrorist and non-state actors. While originally applied in response to events in Nigeria, the policy may apply to any foreign individual responsible for religious persecution.
The Banning Perpetrators of Religious Persecution Act would:
- Codify the State Department’s authority to deny visas to individuals who commit or support violations of religious freedom.
- Expand visa ineligibility to terrorist and non-state actors involved in religious persecution.
- Require the Secretary of State to make publicly available the names of individuals deemed inadmissible, with a limited exception for foreign policy considerations.
The full bill text is available here.
