Rep. Chip Roy Introduces Bill Targeting Religious Worker Visas for Clerics

U.S. Representative Chip Roy (R-TX) has introduced legislation aimed at blocking certain Islamic religious leaders from entering the United States on temporary religious work visas. 

The bill, titled the Inhibiting Militant Adversarial Mullahs Act, or IMAM Act, would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which was originally passed in 1952. The INA defines laws regarding everything in between who can be deported and who can enter the U.S. The IMAM Act in particular, would place new limits on the “R-1” religious worker visas. 

The bill stipulates that an individual may not be admitted under the R-1 category if the person holds the title of: imam or grand imam, shaykha, mufti or grand mufti, or ayatollah or grand ayatollah. Rep. Chip Roy’s office described these individuals as people who “spread Islamist teachings that run counter to our Constitution and Western Civilization.”

In a press release from Rep. Roy’s office said, “The United States should never roll out the red carpet for foreign clerics who preach anti-American hatred, celebrate terrorism, or serve as mouthpieces for radical regimes.” His office also said that the bill targets anti-American clerics who preach Sharia Law and political Islam from entering the country. 

In October, it was reported that a Brooklyn-based imam urged a “jihad” on New York City with an army of 10,000 men back in the early 2000s. This imam, Siraj Wahhaj, was pictured with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani in October of 2025 for a photo opp.

According to the Daily Signal, events such as these concerned Rep. Roy that Muslim clerics were using their religious platforms to spread hostile plans and ideologies across the U.S. Roy said in the article that America should not “import militant ideology disguised as ministry,” saying his bill sends a clear message that those who support America’s enemies should not receive visas.