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This bill would enhance the screening process for people trying to enter the U.S. as refugees. Applicants would have their backgrounds vetted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) before approval. Each refugee applying to enter the U.S. from Iraq or Syria would be subject to these screenings.

The FBI would have to confirm with the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) that a thorough background check has been completed. The three agencies would then have to unanimously agree that the refugee is not a threat to national security before they are let in.

Each year, the DHS Inspector General would do a risk-based review of all the certifications made that year, and report annually to relevant congressional committees. On a monthly basis, DHS would inform those committees about the number of applications approved and rejected each month. These monthly reports would include details about which agencies didn’t concur with the application for admission.

","official_title":"To require that supplemental certifications and background investigations be completed prior to the admission of certain aliens as refugees, and for other purposes.","short_title":"American SAFE Act of 2015","popular_title":null,"short_summary":"(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)\n\nAmerican Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015 or the American SAFE Act of 2015\n\n(Sec. 2) This bill requires that, in addition to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) screening, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) shall take all actions necessary to ensure that each covered alien receives a background investigation before U.S. refugee admission.\n\nA \"covered alien\" is any alien applying for U.S. refugee admission who:\n\n is a national or resident of Iraq or Syria, has no nationality and whose last habitual residence was in Iraq or Syria, or has been present in Iraq or Syria at any time on or after March 1, 2011. A covered alien:\n\n may not be admitted as a refugee until the FBI certifies to DHS and the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) that he or she has received a background investigation sufficient to determine whether the alien is a ...","summarized":true,"cost":null,"cost_commentary":"A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.","impact":"Refugees from Syria and Iraq, people living in the U.S., candidates for the 2016 presidential election, U.S. voters, relevant congressional committees, the FBI, DHS, and the DNI.","argument_for":"It would be reckless to admit refugees from Iraq and Syria without thoroughly vetting them — especially when ISIS is attempting to attack the U.S. These screenings are a prudent step, and will enable refugees that aren’t a security risk to come to America.","argument_against":"The vast majority of these refugees pose no security risk, and are trying to flee violence rather than bring it with them to the U.S. There’s also no guarantee that terrorists wouldn’t be able to pass through the background checks undetected.","bill_type":"hr","published":true,"type":"FederalBill","id":"hr4038-114","bill_id":"hr4038-114","formal_id":"H.R. 4038","chamber":"house","congress":114,"last_action_at":"2016-01-20T00:00:00.000Z","active":true,"enacted":false,"enacted_at":null,"vetoed":false,"last_vote_at":"2016-01-20T00:00:00.000Z","debated_on":null,"congress_url":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th/house-bill/4038","plain_text_url":"http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-114hr4038pcs/html/BILLS-114hr4038pcs.htm","shareable_image_url":"https://n.countable.us/share-images/bills/hr4038-114.png","congress_full_text_url":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th/house-bill/4038/text","is_current_congress":false,"last_version_on":"2015-11-17","related_bill_ids":["hres531-114","s2300-114","hr4086-114","hr3999-114"],"progress":"Passed House","house_passage_result":true,"senate_passage_result":false,"position_count":1723,"committees":[{"name":"Committee on the Judiciary","chamber":"house","committee_id":"HSJU","subcommittee":false},{"name":"Immigration and Citizenship","chamber":"house","committee_id":"HSJU01","subcommittee":true}],"links":{"rollCalls":"/api/roll_calls?bill_id=hr4038-114","details":"/api/bills/hr4038-114/details","sharingMessage":"/api/sharing_messages/hr4038-114","positionsFor":"/api/bills/hr4038-114/positions/for","positionsAgainst":"/api/bills/hr4038-114/positions/against"},"upcoming":false,"cosponsors_count":103,"slug":"hr4038-114-american-safe-act-of-2015","latest_chamber_votes_id":"hr4038-114","official_url":null,"target_video":true,"following":false,"vote_count":43560,"yea_vote_count":17996,"nay_vote_count":25523,"passed_house":true,"passed_senate":false,"vote_id":null,"my_position_id":null,"topic_ids":["immigration"],"issue_ids":["isis-isil","immigration"],"sponsor_id":328}],"votes":[],"issues":[{"id":"isis-isil","name":"ISIS-ISIL","slug":"isis-isil","description":"The United States has begun military intervention against ISIS. Contact your Representative and let them know how you feel. Legislation approving the use of force, funding on-going operations, and condemning the acts of ISIS are being voted on.","page_title":"Approving military force against ISIS - ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria - Levant)","icons":{"black":"https://assets.countable.us/issue/icon/isis-isil/black_isis-isil-1429042047.svg","grey":"https://assets.countable.us/issue/icon/isis-isil/grey_isis-isil-1429042047.svg","white":"https://assets.countable.us/issue/icon/isis-isil/white_isis-isil-1429042047.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"immigration","name":"Immigration","slug":"immigration","description":"Whether you want to refer to the U.S. as a cultural melting pot or a cultural mosaic, immigrants make up a substantial portion of the country. Tell your congressperson how you feel about current legislation related to immigration!","page_title":"Immigration Bills on Countable - Vote on Legislation, Stay informed, Hold Government Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.countable.us/issue/icon/immigration/black_immigration-1429042063.svg","grey":"https://assets.countable.us/issue/icon/immigration/grey_immigration-1429042063.svg","white":"https://assets.countable.us/issue/icon/immigration/white_immigration-1429042063.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false}],"users":[{"name":"Ryan","vote_count":111,"photos":{"large":"https://countable-us.s3.amazonaws.com/user/avatar/default-2.png","small":"https://countable-us.s3.amazonaws.com/user/avatar/default-2.png","tiny":"https://countable-us.s3.amazonaws.com/user/avatar/default-2.png"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/790NY6GZ/following","followers":"/api/users/790NY6GZ/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":0,"is_following":null,"influence_score":0,"influence_level":0,"follower_count":0,"following_count":0,"position_count":15,"id":"790NY6GZ","partner_id":null}],"bill_position":{"flagged":false,"id":"ed27ae15-8392-4526-8111-957c6416d120","argument_for":null,"argument_against":"The current process is extremely detailed, even though 45 presents it as an open door. Adding more levels to the process will only add more cost and provide no additional protection.","show_argument_for":false,"show_argument_against":true,"upvote_count":0,"upvotes_for_count":null,"upvotes_against_count":0,"has_upvoted":false,"endorsement_count":0,"links":{"self":"https://www.countable.us/positions/ed27ae15-8392-4526-8111-957c6416d120"},"body":"The current process is extremely detailed, even though 45 presents it as an open door. Adding more levels to the process will only add more cost and provide no additional protection.","stance":"nay","created_at":"2017-02-11T12:46:00.871Z","shareable_image_url":"https://n.countable.us/share-images/positions/ed27ae15-8392-4526-8111-957c6416d120.png","note_color":null,"note_text":null,"bill_id":"hr4038-114","user_id":"790NY6GZ","endorser_ids":[]}}

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Strengthening Background Checks for Iraqi and Syrian Refugees