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HR 3999 114th Congress House

American SAFE Act of 2015

Official title: To require that the Secretary of Homeland Security certify that refugees admitted to the United States from Iraq or Syria are not security threats to the United States prior to admission.

Introduced: November 16, 2015 Introduced by: Hudson, Richard Republican · North Carolina See on congress.gov
Immigration Border security and unlawful immigrationCongressional oversightCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationCriminal justice information and records
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Government studies and investigationsImmigration status and proceduresIraqMiddle EastRefugees, asylum, displaced personsSyriaTerrorism
This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 4, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
Nov 16, 2015
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Nov 16, 2015
Introduced in House
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 Latest action December 4, 2015

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015 or the American SAFE Act of 2015

This bill prohibits a covered refugee from being admitted to the United States until the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) certifies to Congress that such individual is not a security threat to the United States. The Inspector General of DHS shall review 20% of all such certifications each fiscal year.

The term "covered refugee" is defined as any alien applying for refugee status who is: (1) a national or resident of Iraq or Syria, or (2) present in Iraq or Syria at any time while the application for refugee status is pending.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) shall take actions to ensure that each covered refugee receives a thorough background investigation prior to admission. A covered refugee may not be admitted until the FBI certifies that such covered refugee has received such an investigation.

 Related & companion bills 4
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3999: American SAFE Act of 2015. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-3999/
MLA
"H.R. 3999: American SAFE Act of 2015." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-3999/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3999, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-3999/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3999: American SAFE Act of 2015](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-3999/)
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