Opinion ID: 3022392
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Member of a “Terrorist

Text: Organization” Malachy next contends that the BIA erred when it found that he had engaged in terrorist activities because the BIA did not at the same time find that he was a member of a terrorist organization. To be engaged in a terrorist activity, the INA requires an alien to act either “in an individual capacity or as a member of an organization.” 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(3)(B)(iv) (emphasis added). The statute does not qualify the term “organization.” Terms and provisions may not be added to a statute where Congress has omitted them. See Sale v. Haitian Centers Council, Inc., 509 U.S. 155, 168 n.16 (1993). Therefore, the BIA must find that an alien acted on his own or as a member of an organization – not just a terrorist organization – before it determines that the alien engaged in “terrorist activity.” In this case, it is undisputed that Malachy acted as a member of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) and not as an individual. The INLA is not a terrorist organization as the INA defines that term. See 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(3)(B)(vi). Because the INA does not expressly require the organization, with which the alien was acting, to be a terrorist organization, we accept as reasonable the BIA’s construction of 8 U.S.C.§ 1182(a)(3)(B)(iv): an alien must be acting either individually or as a member of an organization – but not necessarily as a -14- member of a terrorist organization.10