Speech #1040272589

Christians. and other religious groups." We proclaimed our "commitment to human rights around the world" and our international leadership on behalf of persecuted religious minorities." We concluded less than 2 weeks ago. on September 17. that the Senate unequivocally condemns egregious human rights abuses and denials of religious liberty to Christians around the world and recognized Sunday. September 29. as a day of prayer recognizing the plight of persecuted Christians worldwide. It makes little sense merely to condemn religious persecution if we turn around and enact procedures that will shut out the oppressed and summarily exclude refugees from religious persecution. It rings hollow to recall our history of freedom of religion and our station as a haven for the oppressed when we are poised and prepared to abandon that proud tradition. While the Senate of the United States finds it easy to condemn religious persecution in Sudan. INS agents and an immigration judge initially denied Moses Cirillo asylum claim. It was only the extraordinary efforts of human rights advocates in Vermont and their persistent pursuit of justice through the procedural safeguards in our asylum process that allowed him to prevail. If this bill had been the law. those protections would not have been available. I will continue to work to ensure that before too long we will choose to act consistent with the recognition that religious persecution still plagues so much of the world.