Congresswoman Tenney, Senator Cruz Work to Ban the Iranian President from the United States
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today reintroduced the Strengthening Entry Visa Enforcement and Restrictions Act, or SEVER Act, to ban the entry of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and other individuals linked to the Iranian regime into the United States.
Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) is an original cosponsor of the legislation. Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and cosponsored by Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Mike Braun (R-IN), Tom Cotton (R-AK), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Rick Scott (R-FL).
This legislation comes ahead of President Raisi’s upcoming attendance at the opening session of the United Nations General Assembly. The SEVER Act would impose visa restrictions on Raisi because of his involvement in widespread human rights atrocities and his orchestration of terrorist activities worldwide. Furthermore, Raisi has openly called for the assassination of several American officials, including former President Donald Trump and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
“As we approach the opening session of the United Nations General Assembly, it is imperative we stop Raisi and his associates from setting foot on American soil,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “Raisi, whose nickname is “the Butcher of Tehran,” has a record of grave human rights abuses and orchestrating terrorist activities worldwide. Today, I reintroduced the SEVER Act to protect our nation from the threat posed by President Raisi and others connected to the Iranian regime, as well as show the international community that terrorists are not welcome in the U.S.”
“President Biden has agreed to a secret nuclear deal with the Iranian regime, complete with side deals that include ransom payments and promises not to enforce sanctions," said Senator Cruz. "He is also again allowing the Ayatollah’s hand-picked President to come to New York and propagandize on behalf of the regime across New York City. These acts are as reckless as they are outrageous. Raisi is a monster who has called for the assassination of President Trump and other U.S. officials and committed horrific abuses against the people of Iran. He is sanctioned and supposed to be ineligible to enter the United States. The SEVER Act is targeted legislation that would do what President Biden is unwilling to do—deny Raisi and other Iranian individuals who pose threats to American national security visas into the United States.”
The full text of the bill is available here. Tenney and Cruz co-authored an opinion piece in Newsweek last year about the SEVER Act, which you can read here.
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