Source: http://cis.org/HR-4731-a-Bill-to-Reform-the-Refugee-Program
Timestamp: 2017-03-27 02:46:49
Document Index: 68226219

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1157', '§ 1159', '§ 1227', '§ 1522', '§ 1101', '§ 1158']

Home → Backgrounders and Reports » An Overview of H.R. 4731, a Bill to Reform the Refugee Program An Overview of H.R. 4731, a Bill to Reform the Refugee Program By
Dan Cadman March 2016
On March 14, Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho) introduced a bill into the House Judiciary Committee on behalf of himself, Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), immigration subcommittee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), and others that would, if passed, substantially amend the U.S. refugee program. It is H.R. 4731, the "Refugee Program Integrity Restoration Act of 2016". The bill contains some important amendments to the refugee program and merits favorable consideration. It was marked up by the committee on March 16 and passed to the full House for consideration, although unfortunately Govtrack.us only gives it an 11 percent chance of enactment.1 Here are the highlights:
Substituting the phrase "shall be terminated" for "may be terminated" (emphases added), and Including new language requiring termination of refugee status if an individual returns to the country from which he claimed persecution when conditions in that country have not changed. It also adds a new paragraph, 207(c)(5), requiring annual reports to Congress from DHS on the number of aliens whose refugee status is terminated under each of these new provisions.
Section 8 also amends an anomaly of the refugee provisions by adding a new subsection, (d), to Section 209 of the INA by stating that the deportation grounds under Section 237 of the INA are also a basis for denial of adjustment of status, with the exception of the "public charge" deportation ground.4 This section of the bill additionally emphasizes through statutory language that the burden is on the alien to prove eligibility for adjustment by clear and convincing evidence, which must be presented at an in-person interview, and not simply by the filing of paperwork remotely through a government service center.
Finally, Section 8 provides that if an alien is denied adjustment of status (which, legally, is a form of admission to the United States), then five years after the date of the denial and recurrently every five years, he must "return or be returned" to the custody of DHS for inspection as to his admissibility as an immigrant. This seems to suggest that refugees who are denied adjustment must be physically taken into custody — presumably for removal proceedings. However, the "return or be returned" language is slightly confusing in that individuals granted refugee status have never been in DHS custody; they flow into the United States from abroad only after approval, often on government or nongovernmental organization charter flights. Section 9. Amends INA Section 412,5 which provides for resettlement of refugees upon entry by adding a new subsection, (g), to make clear that refugees may not be resettled in any state where the governor or legislature has taken action to disapprove such resettlement, or in any local community where the mayor, chief executive, or legislative body of that community has similarly disapproved resettlement.
Note that an amendment to this section of the bill offered by Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas) was approved; it broadens the new limitations on resettlement of refugees by prohibiting resettlement of refugees in a state in any instance where: The federal resettlement director fails to provide the responsible state agency with a minimum of 21 days advance notice; or
Section 11. Requires creation of a DHS document fraud detection program focused on use of bogus identity and travel documents by intended refugees. It encompasses: Placement of fraud detection officers at refugee screening locations with the authority to place a hold on refugee approvals until fraud or national security concerns are resolved; and Development of a searchable database for use by refugee and fraud detection officers that includes scanned and categorized examples of known documentary frauds.
Section 14. Embeds in statute the requirement that vetting of intended refugees must include a review of Internet and social media sources to ensure that they are not national security threats. Section 15. Requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO), within 18 months of enactment, to report on security of the revised program, including:
1 The text of H.R. 4731 can be found on the Govtrack.us website. 2 Section 207 of the INA is codified at 8 U.S.C. § 1157. 3 Section 209 of the INA is codified at 8 U.S.C. § 1159. 4 Section 237 of the INA is codified at 8 U.S.C. § 1227. 5 Section 412 of the INA is codified at 8 U.S.C. § 1522. 6 Amendment No. 1 to H.R. 4731, Offered by Mr. Poe of Texas.
8 Section 101(a)(42) of the INA is codified at 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(42) . 9 Section 208 of the INA, governing asylum procedures, is codified at 8 U.S.C. § 1158. Dan Cadman Related: Refugees and Asylum | The State Department