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S 2302 114th Congress Senate

Terrorist Refugee Infiltration Prevention Act of 2015

Official title: A bill to temporarily restrict the admission to the United States of refugees from countries containing terrorist-controlled territory.

Introduced: November 18, 2015 Introduced by: Cruz, Ted Republican · Texas See on congress.gov
Immigration AfricaBorder security and unlawful immigrationCongressional oversightCrime victims
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationImmigration status and proceduresIraqLibyaMiddle EastRefugees, asylum, displaced personsSomaliaSyriaTerrorismWar crimes, genocide, crimes against humanityYemen
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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 18, 2015
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Nov 18, 2015
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action November 18, 2015

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Terrorist Refugee Infiltration Prevention Act of 2015

This bill prohibits the U.S. refugee admission of an alien who is a national of, has habitually resided in, or is claiming refugee status due to events in any country containing terrorist-controlled territory (Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and any other Department of State-designated country).

Such an alien may be admitted to the United States as a refugee if the alien:

  • satisfies refugee admission requirements;
  • is a member of a group that has been designated by the State Department or by an Act of Congress as a victim of genocide (and such group does not pose a risk to U.S. security);
  • has undergone the highest level of security screening of any category of traveler to the United States, including full multi-modal biometrics; and
  • the State Department, the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) certify that such alien is not a threat to U.S. national security.

These requirements shall not apply to the U.S. refugee admission of an alien who: (1) provided substantial assistance to the United States, and (2) would face a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury because of that assistance if not admitted to the United States.

The State Department may designate as a country containing terrorist-controlled territory any country containing territory that is controlled, in substantial part, by a foreign terrorist organization to the exclusion of that country's recognized government.

The State Department shall maintain and continually update a list of: (1) the countries containing terrorist-controlled territory, and (2) groups identified as victims of genocide.

An alien may not be admitted into the United States under this Act solely based on his or her assertions, and DHS shall substantiate any such assertions with the State Department, DOD, the FBI, and the DNI.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 2302: Terrorist Refugee Infiltration Prevention Act of 2015. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-2302/
MLA
"S. 2302: Terrorist Refugee Infiltration Prevention Act of 2015." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-2302/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 2302, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-2302/.
Markdown link
[S. 2302: Terrorist Refugee Infiltration Prevention Act of 2015](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-2302/)
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