Patrick Leahy: “this bipartisan amendment I offer is on behalf of the distinguished Presiding Officer, Senator Coleman, Senator Kennedy…”

“this bipartisan amendment I offer is on behalf of the distinguished Presiding Officer, Senator Coleman, Senator Kennedy, Senator Lieberman, Senator Chafee, Senator Harkin, Senator Bingaman, and Senator Sununu. We have had unintended consequences because of changes made in immigration laws after September 11. Rightly so, they were modified to protect national security, but we made them so broad that many people have been prevented from entering our Nation, people who do us no harm. The PATRIOT Act and the subsequent REAL ID Act modified definitions of ``terrorist activity'' and ``material support'' in order to block entry into the United States of individuals who assist terrorist organizations. On its face, that made sense. No one wants terrorists or their supporters to come here as refugees. But the new law failed to recognize that many foreigners, including children, are forced against their will to give food, shelter or other assistance to terrorist groups. It also defined ``terrorist organization'' so broadly that groups that are not engaged in activities against civilians--freedom fighters that the U.S. Government once provided training and other material support to-- like the Montagnards in Vietnam--are covered by this broad definition. Our amendment would bring American laws once again into line with American values. It would give U.S.…”