President Barack Obama on Friday signed a bill blocking admittance to the U.S. by representatives to the United Nations that have “engaged in terrorist activity,” such as Hamid Abutalebi, Iran’s would-be U.N. ambassador, the Hill reported.
The bill, passed by both houses of Congress, was introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and is the conservative firebrand’s first bill signed into law by the Democratic president.
“Acts of espionage and terrorism against the United States and our allies are unquestionably problems of the utmost gravity, and I share the Congress’s concern that individuals who have engaged in such activity may use the cover of diplomacy to gain access to our Nation,” Obama said in a statement.
Obama followed George W. Bush’s example in noting the type of legislation limited his “constitutional discretion” to receive or reject ambassadors, and deemed it merely “advisory.”
