Bill would allow U.S. prosection of immigrants in genocide cases

Friday, March 23rd 2007, 8:25 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ A U.S. Senate committee approves a bill co-sponsored by Oklahoma Republican Senator Tom Coburn that would allow prosecution of immigrants in the United States accused of committing genocide in other countries.

It would close a loophole in federal law that keeps the U.S. Justice Department from prosecuting such cases. Current law only allows prosecution if genocide is committed within the United States or by a U.S. citizen outside the country.

The Genocide Accountability Act, introduced by Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn, now moves before the full Senate. It also is co-sponsored by Democratic Senators Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and Patrick Leahy of Vermont.

The Justice Department says it has identified people who participated in the Rwandan and Bosnian genocides living in the U.S. under false pretenses.