I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3942 

To recognize that Christians and Yazidis in Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Iran, 

Egypt, and Libya are targets of genocide, and to provide for the expedited processing of immigrant and refugee visas for such individuals, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 5, 2015 

Mr. ROHRABACHER (for himself, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. DUNCAN

of Tennessee, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Mr. KELLY of 

Pennsylvania, Mr. HUNTER, Mr. KING of Iowa, Mr. WEBSTER of Florida, 

Mr. CHABOT, Mr. POE of Texas, Mr. POSEY, Mr. HARRIS, Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania, and Mr. BARLETTA) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition 

to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 

as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To recognize that Christians and Yazidis in Iraq, Syria, 

Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, and Libya are targets of genocide, 

and to provide for the expedited processing of immigrant 

and refugee visas for such individuals, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Save Christians from 

3 Genocide Act’’. 

4 SEC. 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY. 

5 Congress— 

6 (1) recognizes that Christians and Yazidis in 

7 Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, and Libya are 

8 targets of genocide and encourages other nations to 

9 likewise recognize the ongoing genocide and the 

10 threat of genocide to these people; and 

11 (2) further recognizes that such targets of 

12 genocide who are seeking admission to the United 

13 States as immigrants or refugees should be given 

14 priority and expedited processing. 

15 SEC. 3. EMERGENCY ADMISSION OF REFUGEES AND IMMI16 GRANTS. 

17 (a) REFUGEES.— 

18 (1) EMERGENCY REFUGEE SITUATION DE19 SCRIBED.—The persecution of Christians and 

20 Yazidis in Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, and 

21 Libya constitutes an unforeseen emergency refugee 

22 situation, and the admission of such persecuted indi23 viduals in response to that situation is of grave hu24 manitarian concern. 

25 (2) EXPEDITED PROCESSING.—The Secretary 

26 of Homeland Security shall provide for the expedited 


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1 processing of the visas for aliens described in para2 graph (3), and shall ensure that such applications 

3 receive first priority among applications for refugee 

4 status. 

5 (3) ALIENS DESCRIBED.—An alien is described 

6 in this paragraph if the alien— 

7 (A) is a citizen or national of Iraq, Syria, 

8 Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, or Libya, or in the case 

9 of an alien having no nationality, whose country 

10 of last habitual residence was Iraq, Syria, Paki11 stan, Iran, Egypt, or Libya; 

12 (B) is a member of the Christian or Yazidi 

13 community; and 

14 (C) is seeking admission to the United 

15 States as a refuge under section 207 of the Im16 migration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157). 

17 (4) QUALIFICATION AS REFUGEES.—For pur18 poses of qualifying as a refugee under section 101 

19 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 

20 1101)— 

21 (A) membership in the Christian or Yazidi 

22 community shall qualify an alien described in 

23 paragraph (3) as a member of a persecuted 

24 group; and 


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1 (B) the requirement that an alien be out2 side any country of such person’s nationality or, 

3 in the case of a person having no nationality, 

4 is outside any country in which such person last 

5 habitually resided, shall not apply to an alien 

6 described in paragraph (3). 

7 (b) IMMIGRANTS.— 

8 (1) EXPEDITED PROCESSING.—The Secretary 

9 of Homeland Security shall provide for the expedited 

10 processing of visas for the aliens described in para11 graph (2), and shall ensure that such applications 

12 receive first priority among applications for immi13 grant status. 

14 (2) ALIENS DESCRIBED.—An alien is described 

15 in this paragraph if the alien— 

16 (A) is a citizen or national of Iraq, Syria, 

17 Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, Libya, or in the case of 

18 an alien having no nationality, whose country of 

19 last habitual residence was Iraq, Syria, Paki20 stan, Iran, Egypt, or Libya; 

21 (B) is a member of the Christian or Yazidi 

22 community; and 

23 (C) is seeking admission to the United 

24 States as an immigrant under subsection (a) or 


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1 (b) of section 203 of the Immigration and Na2 tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153). 

Æ 


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