Arizona Lawmaker Adds More To President's Asia Trip Agenda

Congressman Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) gave the following statement today as President Obama begins his ten-day trip through Asia beginning with a visit for several days in India:

Just last week, the Indian Embassy refused to grant visas to a member of Congressman Franks’ staff as well as to another sitting Member of Congress, who were told that their visas had been placed on “indefinite hold.” The Congressional delegation had sought entry to the country for the purpose of attending a ceremony commemorating the work of an organization dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating drug addicts, AIDS-infected orphans, and victims of sex trafficking.

“In recent weeks and months, the Indian Embassy and government have increasingly implemented a policy of denying visas to groups and government delegations, including a fellow Member of Congress and a member of my staff, who have sought to travel to the country for the purpose of advocating for human rights, particularly for the victims of the grotesque epidemic of sex trafficking. As a valued ally and a growing partner in trade, it is distressing that the Indian Embassy and government would openly thwart U.S. groups’ attempts to travel to the country to work together in addressing a growing problem and a common threat to the shared values of our two nations— sex trafficking as well as other fundamental human rights violations.

“These actions on behalf of the government of India call into question the sincerity of its commitment to eliminating the scourge of human trafficking and its willingness to have its human rights conditions assessed. It also makes India’s call for the U.S. government to extend more visas to Indian citizens ironic in light of its own repeated denials to American citizens, U.S. government organizations, and Members of the United States Congress.

“President Obama has himself stated that ‘If we aren’t willing to pay a price for our values, then we should ask ourselves whether we truly believe in them at all.’ I strongly urge the President to live up to his own words and address the issue of these visa denials during his meetings with Indian state officials.”