The bill calls for foreign authorities who act against the freedom of expression of American citizens to be barred from entering the United States; STF has not commented on the case
RIO – Two US Republican Party lawmakers introduced a bill on Tuesday 17 to ban the entry of foreign authorities who have prevented unrestricted access to freedom of expression for American citizens while they are in the United States. The background to the project are the recent decisions of Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), against X, of the billionaire Elon Musk.
The draft of the project signed by parliamentarians María Elvira Salazar and Darrell Issa does not mention Moraes by name. The Florida congresswoman, however, spoke through official media criticizing Moraes’ decisions and blaming the minister as an “executor of censorship.” The Federal Court has not ruled on the case.
“Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes is spearheading an international attack on free speech against American citizens like Elon Musk. Freedom of expression is a natural and inalienable right that knows no borders. Censors are not welcome in the country of a free United States,” Salazar said in a press release.
According to the text, the bill bars entry to “any alien who, while serving as a foreign government official, is responsible for or directly performs, at any time, any act against a citizen of the United States located within the United States” in violation of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which addresses, among other issues, the right to freedom of expression.
If approved, Minister Alexandre de Moraes could be barred from entering the United States or even deported, if the legislation goes into effect and the judge is on American soil.
“We are all aware of the abuse of power by the Supreme Court of Brazil in targeting Elon Musk and blocking access to X, a private American company. But Americans’ free speech rights are also under attack around the world and in many countries that we did not expect,” Issa said.
“With the No Censors on Our Shores Actforeign government authorities will be put on notice: Deny our citizens their First Amendment rights, and this country will either deny you entry to America or show you the door.”
Bolsonaro’s deputies celebrated the project proposal on social media. Bia Kicis (PL-DF) thanked Salazar in an Instagram post.
“Congratulations and thank you. I am a member of parliament in Brazil and I was there at the hearing when you showed the photo of Judge de Moraes and called him a tyrant,” he wrote.
In another post, federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP) also thanked the parliamentarian for her commitment to “exposing the Brazilian case abroad”.
“We have to solve our problems. But any help abroad, to denounce the Brazilian case, is more than welcome. Thank you Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar,” he wrote.
At the end of August, Minister Alexandre de Moraes ordered the suspension of the social network X after businessman Elon Musk, owner of the platform, refused to appoint a representative to answer for the company in Brazil. The platform has failed to comply with a series of court orders aimed at blocking content and profiles on the network. Elon Musk accused Moraes of “censorship” and called the minister a “tyrant.”
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Source: Terra
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