PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Became Public Law No: 110-257.
Congressional Research Service
Version 49 · Public Law · Jun 26, 2008
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on June 26, 2008. 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 and 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.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
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.
People & committees
Rep. Berman, Howard L. [D-CA-28] · D–CA
Legislative record
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Became Public Law No: 110-257.
Became Public Law No: 110-257.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Cleared for White House.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection. (text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H6171)
Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.(text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H6171)
Ms. Lee asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendment. (consideration: CR H6171-6172)
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: S6231-6232)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: S6231-6232)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 852.
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment. Without written report.
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment. Without written report.
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR 5/6/2008 H3078-3079)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR 5/6/2008 H3078-3079)
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3203)
At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Frelinghuysen objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5690.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3078-3083)
Mr. Conyers moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 387.
Committee on Foreign Affairs discharged.
Committee on Foreign Affairs discharged.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 110-620, Part I.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 110-620, Part I.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law Discharged.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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