(a)
In general— No United States Government official, including the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security, may collect information or establish or otherwise utilize a registry, database, or similar for the purpose of classifying United States nationals or aliens lawfully present in the United States, or any alien who applies for a visa or seeks admission to the United States or on whose behalf a petition under the immigration laws is submitted, on the basis of religious affiliation, or conduct any study related to the collection of such information or the establishment or utilization of such a registry, database, or similar.
(b)
Rule of construction— Nothing in this section may be construed as prohibiting the collection of information that is voluntarily provided, including relating to the decennial census.