Heritage Foundation Leadership for America

Location: The Heritage Foundation's Lehrman Auditorium

U.S. laws justifiably penalize those who voluntarily provide material support to specific, designated terrorist organizations or to those individuals or groups who commit terrorist acts.  But many critics argue that broad, post-9/11 language in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) unjustly penalizes those who have provided material support only because of threats of physical harm to themselves or their loved ones.  Refugees and asylum seekers who fall into this category currently are prohibited by the strict language of the INA from attaining legal status to reside in the United States.  The INA includes some waiver or exemption authority, but this authority has only recently been exercised and may not be broad enough.  Our panelists will review the efforts of the Administration and of Congress to fairly implement the law in a manner that thwarts terrorism while perpetuating the traditions of refugee and asylum policy that help make America a free, open, and just nation.