Austin News

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), along with Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), have sent a letter to President Biden urging targeted sanctions against Nicaragua following religious persecutions carried out by the Ortega-Murillo regime. The Senators expressed deep concern over the escalating violations of religious freedom in Nicaragua and highlighted the recent arrests of pastors and American citizens from the evangelical group Mountain Gateway.

According to the letter, the Ortega-Murillo regime's actions against Mountain Gateway, a U.S.-based Christian organization, are part of a broader pattern of corruption and oppression. The regime's crackdown on religious groups, particularly those associated with the Catholic Church, has drawn condemnation from the Senators, who emphasized the need for the U.S. to hold the regime accountable for its abuses.

The Senators pointed out that the Ortega-Murillo regime has been coordinating with Venezuela and Cuba to suppress dissent and destabilize the Western Hemisphere. They cited the unjust imprisonment of religious leaders and the shuttering of civil society institutions as evidence of the regime's authoritarian tactics.

In a statement, UN GHREN Chair Jan Simon highlighted the grave human rights violations being committed by Nicaragua's Government, calling for accountability for President Ortega, Vice-President Murillo, and other high-level officials.

The letter to President Biden concluded with a call to action, urging the administration to impose additional targeted sanctions and use all available authorities to pressure the Ortega-Murillo regime to restore religious freedom, uphold democracy, and release political prisoners. The Senators emphasized the importance of standing with the Nicaraguan people in their struggle for freedom and justice.