Banning Perpetrators of Religious Persecution Act of 2026

Ban on religious persecutors entering United States

This bill would bar certain noncitizens from getting U.S. visas or admission. It would bar any alien who, while serving as a foreign government official, was responsible for or directly carried out "particularly severe" violations of religious freedom (as defined in the International Religious Freedom Act). It would also bar any alien who, while outside the United States, directed, authorized, significantly supported, participated in, was responsible for, or carried out particularly severe violations or violations of religious freedom. The Secretary of State would post the names of people found inadmissible and the countries or locations where the violations occurred on a public Department of State website. The Secretary could withhold an individual's identity from public disclosure on a case-by-case, unreviewable basis if release would harm foreign policy, but must send a semiannual report to Congress explaining each such exclusion under 22 U.S.C. 2723(a). The public posting rule would apply notwithstanding confidentiality limits in INA section 222(f). The rule would take effect upon enactment.