The U.S. to Consider Naming Kleptocrats and Human Rights Abusers

Published: 26 July 2021

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A new bill introduced last week to the Congress could allow the United States to publish the names of human rights abusers and kleptocrats who are banned from entering the country. (Photo: Joshua Willson, Pixabay, License)

By Emily Tian

A new bill introduced last week to the Congress could allow the United States to publish the names of human rights abusers and kleptocrats who are banned from entering the country. The bill aims to burst the culture of confidentiality which currently prevents the public from knowing who has been sanctioned this way and for what.

According to a press release, the Revealing and Explaining Visa Exclusions for Accountability and Legitimacy, or the REVEAL Act, was brought forth by U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Ben Cardin (D-MD), along with Congressmen Steve Cohen (D-TN) and Steve Chabot (R-OH).

“Kleptocrats rely on anonymity,” Senator Cardinsaid. “The United States should not allow crooks and cronies to hide behind confidentiality.”

Without this bill, the executive branch is prohibited from identifying the names of those banned from the U.S. for “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences” as a provision in the The Immigration and Nationality Act details. The privacy is meant to prevent public “naming and shaming.”

The legislatures behind the REVEAL Act argue it is in the global public interest to name and it would give the Secretary of State the power to do so with this law.

“Common sense dictates we should also let the world know who we are excluding, so that other governments can follow our lead,” Congressman Chabot said.