US Could Bar Entry to Chinese Officials Involved in Persecution of Falun Gong

US Could Bar Entry to Chinese Officials Involved in Persecution of Falun Gong
Epoch Times


The U.S. State Department is looking to increase the enforcement of immigration controls against human rights violators, in a move that could see Chinese officials involved in the persecution of Falun Gong being barred from the United States, according to a statement from a U.S. website that acts as a clearinghouse on the persecution of the spiritual practice.

The agency plans to increase its scrutiny of visa applications of foreign officials who have participated in severe violations of religious freedom, according to a May 31 news release by U.S. website Minghui.org. According to the release, these officials could have their immigration or non-immigration visas (such as tourist or business visas) rejected. Those who have already been issued visas could be blocked from entering the country, the notice said.

Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) Section 212(a)(2)(G), any person, while serving as a foreign government official, who is responsible for or have directly carried out particularly severe violations of religious freedom at any time, are inadmissible for entry to the United States.

Particularly severe violations of religious freedom include systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom such as torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment; prolonged detention without charges; causing the disappearance of persons by the abduction or clandestine detention of those persons; or other flagrant denial of the right to life, liberty, or the security of persons.

An official from the State Department told various religious and faith-based groups about the intensified scrutiny. The official advised Falun Gong practitioners in the United States that they could submit a list of Chinese officials known to be involved in the persecution, the news release stated.
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