Moore Bill Targets Sharia in Visa Process
Rep. Barry Moore introduced the CRUSADE Act, tying religious worker visas to an oath supporting the U.S. Constitution
U.S. Representative Barry Moore (R-AL-01) has introduced new legislation that would require certain immigrants seeking entry into the United States as religious workers to formally reject sharia law and affirm support for the U.S. Constitution.
Moore announced the proposal in Washington, calling the measure the CRUSADE Act, short for “Countering Radicalism Under Sharia and Defeating Extremism.”
The bill would amend the EB-4 special immigrant visa category, including the religious worker program. Under the proposal, covered applicants would be required to disavow sharia law and take an oath pledging support for the Constitution before receiving approval to enter the country.
In a statement released by his office, Moore said the legislation is intended to reinforce constitutional protections and prevent foreign legal systems from conflicting with American law.
“America is built on the rule of law and the supremacy of the Constitution - not foreign legal systems that conflict with our freedoms and values,” Moore said. “The CRUSADE Act makes clear that anyone seeking entry into the United States as a religious worker must affirm their commitment to the Constitution and reject the extremist practices found in sharia law that have been used to justify persecution, violence, and the suppression of basic human rights. Religious liberty is one of our nation’s founding principles, but it cannot come at the expense of the constitutional order that protects all Americans.”
Moore’s office said the legislation was prompted by concerns over the use of sharia law in some parts of the world to justify persecution of religious minorities, limits on women’s rights, penalties for apostasy and blasphemy, and the elevation of religious law over civil authority.
The bill has drawn support from several members of the House, including Reps. Andy Ogles (R-TN), Josh Brecheen (R-OK) and Clay Fuller (R-GA)
The proposal follows earlier legislation introduced by Moore this year titled the “Defeat Sharia Law in America Act,” which sought to clarify that discrimination carried out through the implementation of sharia law would violate the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The CRUSADE Act has not yet received committee action in Congress.
