Number: RL32564
Title: Immigration: Terrorist Grounds for Exclusion and Removal of Aliens
Authors: Michael John Garcia, American Law Division; Ruth Ellen Wasem, Domestic Social Policy Division 
Abstract: This report opens with an overview of the grounds for inadmissibility and summarizes key legislation enacted in recent years. The section on current law explains the legal definitions of "terrorist activity," "engage in terrorist activity," and "terrorist organization," and describes the terrorism-related grounds for inadmissibility and removal. Legislation has been considered in the 110th Congress that would modify the terrorism-related grounds for inadmissibility and removal, as well as the impact that these grounds have upon alien eligibility for relief from removal. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (P.L. 110-161), enacted in December 2007, modified certain terrorism-related provisions of the INA, including exempting specified groups from the INA's definition of "terrorist organization" and expanding immigration authorities' waiver authority over the terrorism-related grounds for exclusion. H.R. 5690 (P.L. 110-257), which was enacted into law on July 1, 2008, expressly excludes the African National Congress (ANC) from being considered a terrorist organization, and provides immigration authorities the ability to exempt most terrorism-related and criminal grounds for inadmissiblity from applying to aliens with respect to activities undertaken in opposition to apartheid rule in South Africa.
Pages: 20
Date: July 2, 2008