Rep. Guy Reschenthaler
U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) on June 15 proposed legislation that would prevent members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from obtaining green cards, officially known as a Permanent Resident Card that allows foreign individuals to live and work permanently in the United States.
“It is clear members of the CCP do not share our American ideals and values,” Rep. Reschenthaler said. “We should not permit them to enjoy all of the privileges that come with being an American citizen.”
Rep. Reschenthaler sponsored the End Chinese Communist Citizenship Act, H.R. 7224, which would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act with respect to inadmissibility based on membership in the CCP, according to the congressional record bill summary.
Currently, the Immigration and Nationality Act prohibits an immigrant who has been “a member of or affiliated with the Communist or any other totalitarian party” from receiving a green card, but is vague as to which Communist party membership it actually applies, according to the congressman’s office.
“The CCP continues to engage in aggressive and reckless behavior on the global stage,” pointed out Rep. Reschenthaler, “including stealing American intellectual property, violating international trade laws, committing heinous human rights abuses, and more recently, failing to act and responsibly share information that could have contained the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.”
If enacted, H.R. 7224 would add “Chinese Communist Party or its successor” to the list of immigrants prohibited by law from becoming U.S. citizens, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmaker’s office.
Additionally, the bill would eliminate two current exemptions to the citizenship ban: the exemption for an individual who terminated membership with the CCP party and the exemption for an individual who is related to a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident, the summary says.