Immigration Implications of
International Religious Freedom Act of 1998
Posted Aug 28, 1999

In an INS memo dated July 19, 1999, Michael Pearson, Executive Associate Commissioner, Office of Field Operations described a change in the grounds for inadmissibility in the immigration law, resulting from a law known as the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 ("IRFA"). New section 212(a)(2)(G) of the Immigration and Nationality Act now makes "foreign government officials who have engaged in particularly severe violations of religious freedom" within the past 24 months ineligible to obtain a visa or be admitted to the U.S.

The memo and the statute provide definitions of what constitutes a "particularly severe" violation and the U.S. Department of State has established procedures for a Consular Officer to make the necessary determination.

IRFA also establishes a new Office on International Religious Freedom within the U.S. Department of State, to monitor and report upon violations of religious freedom around the world.