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S 2979 110th Congress Senate International Affairs Africa (Sub-Saharan) Aliens Crime and Law Enforcement Criminal aliens Criminal justice information Data banks Government Operations and Politics Identification of criminals Immigration Political parties Science, Technology, Communications South Africa Terrorism Visas

A bill to exempt the African National Congress from treatment as a terrorist organization, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 6, 2008 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 110th Congress ended
It never became law before the 110th Congress (2007–2008) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 26, 2008
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 850.
Jun 26, 2008
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy without amendment. Without written report.
Jun 26, 2008
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
May 6, 2008
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
May 6, 2008
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Amends the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008 to state that for purposes of alien inadmissibility based upon terrorist-related grounds the African National Congress (ANC) shall not be considered to be a terrorist organization on the basis of any act or event that occurred before the date of enactment of such Act.

Authorizes the Secretary of State (after consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security) or the Secretary of Homeland Security (after consultation with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General) to determine, in such Secretary's sole unreviewable discretion, that inadmissibility based upon specified criminal convictions or terrorist activities shall not apply to an alien with respect to activities undertaken in opposition to apartheid rule in South Africa.

Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security should exercise such authority in appropriate instances to exempt the anti-apartheid activities of aliens who are current or former officials of the government of the Republic of South Africa.

Directs the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Director of National Intelligence, to ensure that databases used to determine U.S. admissibility are appropriately updated.

What's happening now June 26, 2008

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 850.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 2979: A bill to exempt the African National Congress from treatment as a terrorist organization, and for other purposes.. 110th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/110-S-2979/
MLA
"S. 2979: A bill to exempt the African National Congress from treatment as a terrorist organization, and for other purposes.." 110th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/110-S-2979/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 2979, 110th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/110-S-2979/.
Markdown link
[S. 2979: A bill to exempt the African National Congress from treatment as a terrorist organization, and for other purposes.](https://openamerica.io/bill/110-S-2979/)
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