A new federal bill aims to block and deport the close relatives of designated global terrorists and high-ranking officials from hostile nations. Introduced by Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), the “No Safe Haven for Terrorist Families Act” seeks to close what lawmakers call a dangerous gap in current U.S. immigration policy.
Under existing laws, family members of terrorists are not automatically barred from getting tourist, student, or work visas. Republican lawmakers point to past instances, such as the niece and grandniece of the late Iranian Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani, who legally lived in the U.S. on visas for years despite spreading anti-American propaganda, as proof that the system needs to change.
The newly introduced legislation would create a permanent ground of “inadmissibility” for a wide net of family ties. If passed, it would ban and revoke visas for spouses, ex-spouses, parents, parents-in-law, children, stepchildren, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews of anyone designated as a global threat actor.
“Terrorists and their families should not be allowed to take advantage of our immigration system and live comfortably in the United States,” Representative Steube said in a statement. “If you are related to someone who has committed acts of terrorism against Americans, you should not be welcomed into our country. The No Safe Haven for Terrorist Families Act puts Americans’ safety first and closes this dangerous loophole.”
The bill is not just looking forward; it is also retroactive. It would apply to any foreign national regardless of when their family relationship was formed or when the relative was officially labeled a threat. Once the government identifies an inadmissible family member, the Secretary of State would have exactly 30 days to revoke their existing visa.
The text of the bill reveals the crackdown extends beyond just terror groups. It also targets senior officials—at the director level, deputy minister level, or higher—from state sponsors of terrorism and specific foreign adversaries. The bill explicitly names the Islamic Republic of Iran, the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and the Republic of Cuba. It also includes anyone sanctioned for major corruption, kleptocracy, or human rights abuses linked to hostile governments.
“Relatives of terrorists have no business being in our country. My bill would revoke visas from family members of terrorists to keep Americans safer,” Senator Cotton stated.
House Republican Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), a vocal supporter of the bill, emphasized that the legislation takes direct aim at specific networks. “America must never be a safe haven for the families of terrorists who seek to exploit our immigration system while promoting anti-American and antisemitic extremism,” Stefanik said. She added that she is proud to back the act to close loopholes that have allowed relatives of designated terrorists to legally reside in the U.S., “such as those tied to the Islamic Regime of Iran and Hamas.”
The proposed law would strip immigration judges of their usual powers to grant relief. Affected individuals would not be eligible for cancellation of removal or adjustments of status, meaning deportation would be swift and heavily prioritized by the Department of Homeland Security.
The bill is also co-sponsored by Representatives Byron Donalds, Wesley Hunt, and Barry Moore. If enacted, the State Department and Homeland Security would have 180 days to overhaul their screening systems using intelligence databases, and they would be required to submit a yearly report to Congress detailing exactly how many visas were revoked and how many people were removed under the new rules.
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