SAFER Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-441
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-42]
Introduced: 2017-01-11
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Criminal justice information and records

Immigration status and procedures

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Iraq

Middle East

Refugees, asylum, displaced persons

Syria

Terrorism
Latest action: action_date: 2017-02-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-01-11
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Secure Accountability for Emigres and Refugees Act of 2017 or the SAFER Act of 2017</strong></p> <p>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: </p> <ul> <li>has passed a lie detector test; </li> <li>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 </li> <li>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. </li> </ul> <p>&quot;Covered alien&quot; 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.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 441 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 11, 2017 Mr. Calvert (for himself, Mr. Rohrabacher , Mr. Knight , and Mr. Hunter ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To provide for additional security requirements for Syrian and Iraqi refugees, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Secure Accountability for Emigres and Refugees Act of 2017 or the SAFER Act of 2017 . 2. Security requirements for Syrian and Iraqi refugees (a) In general Prior to admitting to the United States as a refugee under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1157 ) a covered alien, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Director of National Intelligence, shall ensure that the covered alien— (1) has taken and passed a lie detector test, as determined by the Secretary; (2) has submitted to the Secretary biometric identification information, including DNA, which the Secretary has compared against all relevant databases and determined that the covered alien has no known history of engaging in terrorist activity (as such term is defined in section 212(a)(3)(B)(iv) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(B)(iv) )); and (3) does not pose a threat to the national security of the United States based on a background check that the Secretary conducts, which includes a review of the covered alien’s interactions on and posting of material to the Internet (including social media services), and for purposes of which, the alien has submitted to the Secretary such information as the Secretary determines necessary. (b) Covered alien The term covered alien means an alien applying for admission to the United States as a refugee 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. (c) Sunset This Act shall cease to have effect on the date that is 10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.