Banning Perpetrators of Religious Persecution Act of 2026

Plain-English Summary

This bill would change U.S. immigration law to make certain people ineligible for visas to enter the United States. Specifically, it targets individuals who have been personally involved in serious violations of religious freedom — meaning people who directed, authorized, significantly supported, participated in, or carried out actions that restrict or persecute others based on their religious beliefs. In other words, if someone has played a role in religiously-motivated persecution, they could be denied permission to travel to or immigrate to the United States.

The bill would affect foreign nationals seeking any type of U.S. visa — whether for tourism, business, study, or immigration purposes. People who have ordered or carried out religious persecution in other countries, as well as those who provided meaningful support to such efforts, would be potentially barred from entry. This could apply to government officials, military personnel, or private individuals from any country who have been involved in these kinds of actions.

It is worth noting that the bill was recently introduced in the House of Representatives and referred to the House Judiciary Committee, which is a standard early step in the legislative process. It has not yet been debated, amended, or voted on. The bill does not specify in detail which agency would make these determinations or what evidence would be required to deny a visa, which are details that could be worked out through further legislative action or regulations if the bill advances.