American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015

To require that supplemental certifications and background investigations be completed prior to the admission of certain aliens as refugees, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015 American SAFE Act of 2015 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Covered alien The term covered alien (A) is a national or resident of Iraq or of Syria; (B) has no nationality and whose last habitual residence was in Iraq or in Syria; or (C) has been present in Iraq or in Syria at any time on or after March 1, 2011. (2) Appropriate congressional committees The term appropriate congressional committees (A) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate (B) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate (C) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate (D) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate (E) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate (F) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate (G) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives (H) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives (I) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives (J) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives (K) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives (L) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 3. Review of refugees to identify security threats to the United States (a) Background investigation In addition to the screening conducted by the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall take all actions necessary to ensure that each covered alien receives a thorough background investigation prior to admission as a refugee. A covered alien may not be admitted as a refugee until the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation certifies to the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence that each covered alien has received a background investigation that is sufficient to determine whether the covered alien is a threat to the security of the United States. (b) Certification by unanimous concurrence A covered alien may only be admitted to the United States after the Secretary of Homeland Security, with the unanimous concurrence of the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Director of National Intelligence, certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the covered alien is not a threat to the security of the United States. (c) Inspector general review of certifications The Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security shall— (1) conduct a risk-based review of all certifications made under subsection (b) each year; and (2) provide an annual report to the appropriate congressional committees that details the findings of each review conducted under paragraph (1). (d) Monthly report The Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit a monthly report to the appropriate congressional committees that— (1) describes the total number of applications for admission with regard to which a certification under subsection (b) was made and the number of covered aliens with regard to whom such a certification was not made for the month preceding the date of the report; and (2) includes, for each covered alien with regard to whom a certification was not made, the concurrence or nonconcurrence of each person whose concurrence was required under subsection (b).

Summary: American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015 or the American SAFE Act of 2015 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. A "covered alien" is any alien applying for U.S. refugee admission who: 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: 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 U.S. security threat; and may only be admitted to the United States after DHS, with the unanimous concurrence of the FBI and the DNI, certifies to Congress that he or she is not such a threat. The Inspector General of DHS shall conduct annual risk-based reviews of all certifications. DHS shall report monthly to Congress on the total number of admission applications for which a certification was made and the number of covered aliens for whom such a certification was not made for the preceding month. The report shall include for each covered alien for whom a certification was not made the concurrence or nonconcurrence of each person whose concurrence was required by the certification.