WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Rick Scott led his colleagues in introducing a resolution in the U.S. Senate condemning the Nicaraguan government’s unjust imprisonment of individuals affiliated with Mountain Gateway Order, a U.S.-based Christian organization which has maintained a missionary presence in Latin America for more than a decade. In recent months, the Ortega-Murillo regime has arrested 11 pastors associated with the evangelical group Mountain Gateway, who were targeted despite having the approval, support and assistance of the Nicaraguan government, and has issued arrest warrants for three American citizens associated with the organization. Joining Senator Scott on the resolution are Senators Tommy Tuberville, Katie Britt, Ted Cruz and Kevin Cramer.

Earlier this month, Senator Scott led his colleagues in a letter to President Joe Biden calling on the administration to implement strong, targeted sanctions following the repeated and escalating violations of religious freedom in Nicaragua. Read more here.

Read the text of the resolution HERE or below.

Condemning the Nicaraguan Government’s unjust imprisonment of individuals affiliated with Mountain Gateway Order, Inc..

Whereas, in December, 2023, 11 individuals affiliated with Mountain Gateway Order, Inc. were arrested by the Government of Nicaragua, namely: Marcos Sergio Hernandez Jiron; Harry Lening Rios Bravo; Manuel de Jesus Rios Flores; Jose Luis Orozco Urrutia; Alvaro Daniel Escobar Caldera; Juan Carlos Chavarria Zapata; Juan Luis Moncada; Orvin Alexis Moncada Castellano, Cesar Facundo Burgalin Miranda, Walner Omier Blandon Ochoa, and Marisela de Fatima Mejia Ruiz;

Whereas there is concern that the Government of Nicaragua has charged each of these individuals for crimes on baseless claims of money laundering and organized crime;

Whereas the accused individuals do not have adequate access to legal counsel;

Whereas there is concern that United States citizens affiliated with Mountain Gateway Order, Inc. are being targeted for arrest and extradition by the Government of Nicaragua;

Whereas this follows a pattern by the Government of Nicaragua to quell the free speech and religious rights of Christians and other nongovernmental organizations in Nicaragua;

Whereas on November 30, 2022, in accordance with the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.), the Secretary of State designated Nicaragua as a “Country of Particular Concern” for having engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom;

Whereas the Government of Nicaragua’s actions are another example of an extreme intolerance of religious organizations; and

Whereas Congress has a vested interest in upholding international religious freedom and human rights: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate—

(1) condemns the targeting and imprisonment of individuals affiliated with Mountain Gateway Order, Inc. without due process of law; and

(2) calls on the Government of Nicaragua to take prompt action to address these violations of religious freedom and international human rights.

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