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HR 4291 114th Congress House

SAFER Act of 2015

Official title: To provide for additional security requirements for Syrian and Iraqi refugees, and for other purposes.

Introduced: December 18, 2015 Introduced by: Calvert, Ken Republican · California See on congress.gov
Immigration Criminal justice information and recordsImmigration status and proceduresInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social media
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IraqMiddle EastRefugees, asylum, displaced personsSyriaTerrorism
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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
Jan 15, 2016
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
Dec 18, 2015
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Dec 18, 2015
Introduced in House
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 Latest action January 15, 2016

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Secure Accountability for Emigres and Refugees Act of 2015 or the SAFER Act of 2015

This bill requires that, before the U.S. refugee admission of a covered alien, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall ensure that such person:

  • has passed a lie detector test;
  • has submitted to DHS biometric identification information, including DNA, which DHS has compared against all relevant databases and determined that the person has no known history of terrorist activity; and
  • does not pose a threat to U.S. national security based on a background check that includes a review of the person's Internet interactions, including social media services.

"Covered alien" means an alien applying for U.S. refugee admission who: (1) is a national of Iraq or Syria, (2) has no nationality and whose last habitual residence was in Iraq or Syria, or (3) has been present in Iraq or Syria at any time on or after March 1, 2011.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4291: SAFER Act of 2015. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4291/
MLA
"H.R. 4291: SAFER Act of 2015." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4291/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4291, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4291/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4291: SAFER Act of 2015](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4291/)
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