Immigration

Border Security and Accountability Act of 2015

United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2015

Border Security and Accountability Act 2015 This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), together with other specified departments, to submit to Congress and the Government Accountability Office a U.S. border protection strategy. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 is amended to require that international land border control actions accord with that strategy. DHS shall implement: a monitoring and mitigation plan to address the ecological and environmental impacts of security infrastructure along the international land borders of the United States; and a plan to improve coordination among U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and other federal, state, local, or tribal authorities to improve efforts to combat human smuggling. CBP shall make available to the public information collected on migrant deaths occurring along the U.S.-Mexico border. Except in a national emergency or when required for specific counterterrorism duties, the Armed Forces may not assist in federal, state, and local and civilian law enforcement of immigration laws. DHS shall establish a Border Communities Liaison Office in every patrol sector at the southern and northern borders. The bill prescribes requirements for enhanced border cooperation with Mexico, including in the areas of: (1) border security, (2) human trafficking and smuggling, (3) drug trafficking, (4) gang membership, and (5) violence and border deaths. DHS shall establish a Southern Border Security Task Force. The bill establishes the Southern Border Security Commission. DHS shall: issue policies regarding the use of force by DHS personnel; establish standards for the conditions of confinement for children in CBP custody; and consider safety and family concerns in any action related to the repatriation or prosecution of individuals apprehended for immigration violations. DHS may not establish any new border crossing fees for individuals crossing at land ports of entry along the southern and northern borders. DHS must certify to Congress every six months, with specified exceptions, that it has only deported or otherwise removed a migrant from the United States through an entry or exit point on the southern border during daylight hours. DHS shall make specified increases to the total number of full-time CBP officers and support staff at U.S. land ports of entry by September 30, 2020. Each component of DHS shall comply with the Department of Justice Guidance for Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Regarding the Use of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, National Origin, Religion, Sexual Orientation, or Gender Identity.

Vet Electronic Trails Act of 2015

United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2015

Vet Electronic Trails Act of 2015 This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require the Department of Homeland Security, before issuing any immigrant or nonimmigrant visa, to check a person's interactions on and posting of material to the Internet (including social media services) in order to ensure that he or she is not a U.S. security threat.

To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to search all public records to determine if an alien is inadmissible to the United States.

United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2015

This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to search all public records, including Internet sites and social media profiles, to determine if an alien applying for admission to the United States is inadmissible under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

SAFER Act of 2015

United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2015

Secure Accountability for Emigres and Refugees Act of 2015 or the SAFER Act of 2015 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: has passed a lie detector test; 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 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. "Covered alien" 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.

Defend America Act of 2015

United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2015

Defend America Act of 2015 This bill prohibits, until the President certifies that specified provisions of this Act have been carried out, the refugee admission of any alien (covered alien) who is: applying for admission to the United States as a refugee, and is a national or resident of Iraq or Syria, has no known nationality and whose last habitual residence was in Iraq or in Syria, or has been present in Iraq or in Syria at any time on or after March 1, 2011; not a citizen of Iraq who is or was employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government in Iraq on or after March 20, 2003, for at least one year, and provided documented, valuable service to the U.S. government; not the spouse or child of such alien; and not an infant child without living parents who is younger than four years of age. In addition to any Department of State or Department of Homeland Security (DHS) screenings, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) shall ensure that each covered alien receives a background investigation before U.S refugee admission. 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 person is a U.S. security threat, and whether the person has provided support to any foreign terrorist organization; and only be admitted to the United States after DHS, with the unanimous concurrence of the FBI and the DNI, certifies to Congress that the person is not such a threat. The Inspector General of DHS shall conduct annual risk-based reviews of all certifications. The Immigration and Nationality Act is amended to require the State Department, before a refugee's resettlement in a state, to give the governor specified personal information about the person. The use of social media to promote terrorism shall be a grounds for inadmissibility. Any alien shall be ineligible for visa waiver program participation who: has been present, at any time on or after March 1, 2011, in Iraq or Syria, in a country designated as one that has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism, or in any other country or area of concern designated by DHS; and regardless of whether the alien is a national of a visa waiver program country, is a national of Iraq or Syria, a country designated as a country that has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism, or any other country or area of concern. Such prohibitions shall not apply to an alien who was present in such a country to perform military or official government service for a program country. DHS may waive such prohibitions if in U.S. law enforcement or national security interests. DHS shall review annually whether such prohibitions shall apply to any country or area, based on specified considerations. A program country shall: screen travelers to determine if they are using stolen or lost travel documents; report the loss or theft of one of its national's passports to the United States within 24 hours; with certain exceptions, certify to DHS that it is screening each entering or departing non-citizen or non-national for unlawful activity by using Interpol databases and notices, or other means designated by DHS; enter into and comply with an agreement with the United States to assist in the operation of an air marshal program; comply with U.S. aviation and airport security standards; and certify that it issues to its citizens machine-readable, electronic passports that comply with the biometric and document identifying standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization. DHS may terminate a country's program status for noncompliance, subject to specified conditions for reinstatement. By April 1, 2016, every citizen or national of a visa waiver program country who is cleared to travel to the United States under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) shall possess a valid, unexpired, tamper-resistant, machine-readable passport that incorporates complying biometric and document authentication identifiers. In determining whether to designate a country as a program country or whether a program country should retain its designation, DHS shall consider specified questions. DHS shall: evaluate program countries to identify those from which the admission of nationals would present a high risk to U.S. national security; research opportunities to incorporate anti-fraud/deception technology into ESTA; and collect from an applicant information on any additional or previous countries of citizenship, and consider such information when making admissions determinations. The bill expresses the sense of Congress concerning establishment of electronic passport standards by the International Civil Aviation Organization. The State Department shall prioritize the issuance of special immigrant visas for certain Iraqi and Afghan translators who worked with the U.S. government or Armed Forces.

Travel Facilitation and Safety Act of 2015

United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2015

Travel Facilitation and Safety Act of 2015 This bill authorizes the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enter into cost-sharing agreements with airport authorities in foreign countries at which preclearance operations will be established or maintained if certain circumstances apply. Any cost-sharing agreement may provide for an airport authority's payment to the CBP of its initial preclearance operations costs. The Immigration and Nationality Act is amended with respect to reimbursements to the Department of Justice received from commercial aircraft or vessel owners, operators, or agents, or from any airport or seaport authority, for expenses incurred for immigration inspection services they have requested. Such reimbursements may be collected in advance of those services, and shall be credited as offsetting collections to the currently applicable CBP appropriation, account, or fund. The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 is amended to make the same disposition for reimbursements to the Department of Agriculture for preclearance of animals or articles at locations outside the United States for movement into the United States. The bill expresses the sense of Congress that each visa waiver program country should seek to participate in the U.S. preclearance program. DHS may select preclearance locations and enter into agreements with foreign governments or airports to conduct a collaborative demonstration program at those locations to test emerging biometric technologies. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence shall develop a process to share information derived from the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment database and the Terrorist Screening Database with countries participating in the visa waiver program.

EB-5 Integrity Act of 2015

United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2015

EB-5 Integrity Act of 2015 This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise the EB-5 (alien investor) regional center program. A regional center shall operate within a defined geographic area, and shall be consistent with the purpose of concentrating pooled investment within such area. The bill prescribes job creation requirements. Alien investor capital may not be used to purchase municipal or any other publicly-available bonds. Approved regional centers must give advance notice to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of significant proposed changes to their organizational structure, ownership, or administration, which must then be approved by DHS. A commercial enterprise associated with a regional center shall file an application with, and obtain approval from, DHS for each investment offering to aliens seeking alien investor classification. Approval of a business plan shall be binding on future adjudication except in cases of fraud, criminal misuse, public or national security, or major errors of law or fact. The bill expands regional center annual statement reporting requirements. The bill also prohibits regional center involvement for persons who have committed certain crimes, human trafficking, controlled substance trafficking, espionage, or terrorist activity. DHS shall suspend or terminate designation of any regional center, or the participation of any new commercial enterprise or job-creating entity, that knowingly involved such a person. Only a U.S. national or lawfully admitted permanent resident may be involved with a regional center. A regional center shall monitor and supervise all offers, purchases, and sales of securities made by associated parties to ensure compliance with U.S. securities laws. The bill establishes the EB-5 Integrity Fund in the Treasury, and prescribes specified fees to be collected from each regional center. Direct and third party promoters must: (1) comply with DHS rules and standards and federal or state securities laws, (2) register with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and (3) meet other specified requirements. The bill prescribes fund source and gift restrictions. DHS shall deny or revoke the approval of a business plan application with any investment or business arrangement that: (1) presents a threat to public safety or national security; or (2) presents a significant risk of criminal misuse, fraud, or abuse. An alien investor shall demonstrate that the required capital and any administrative funds were obtained from a lawful source and through lawful means. If a regional center or regional center associated commercial enterprise has its designation or participation terminated for reasons relating to fraud or other specified offenses, any associated person, including an alien investor, who was a knowing participant shall be permanently barred from future program participation. DHS employees may not give specified preferential treatment to any organization or individual in connection with any aspect of the EB-5 regional center investor visa program.

21st Century Visa Vetting Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2015

21st Century Visa Vetting Act This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to search open source information, including Internet sites and social media postings, of an alien who applies for a visa to enter the United States to determine if the alien is inadmissible under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

K-1 Visa Program Suspension Act of 2015

United States · United States Congress · 16 December 2015

K-1 Visa Program Suspension Act of 2015 This bill prohibits the admission of K-1 nonimmigrants (fiancee or fiance) and the issuance of K-1 visas. The Government Accountability Office shall review the national security risks associated with the K-1 visa program.

Resettlement REFORM (Re-Evaluation of Financing Our Refugee Mission) Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 December 2015

Resettlement REFORM (Re-Evaluation of Financing Our Refugee Mission) Act This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize a state to refuse without penalty to expend refugee resettlement assistance with respect to an alien who: is a national of a country that is a state sponsor of terrorism or a terrorist sanctuary, or has no nationality and the country in which the alien last habitually resided is a state sponsor of terrorism or a terrorist sanctuary. A state may not refuse to expend such funds with respect to an alien who is an Iraqi national (or spouse or children of one) who was employed by, or worked for the U.S. government in Iraq and has or is experiencing an ongoing serious threat because of such employment.

Cuban Immigrant Work Opportunity Act of 2015

United States · United States Congress · 15 December 2015

Cuban Immigrant Work Opportunity Act of 2015 This bill makes Cuban nationals who enter the United States on or after the date of enactment of this Act ineligible for refugee/parolee assistance under the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980. Conforming amendments are made to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 and the Immigration and Nationality Act. The Inspector General of the Social Security Administration shall report to Congress describing methods for enforcing the loss of Supplemental Security Income eligibility by persons who are absent from the United States for at least one month.

A bill to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to search all public records to determine if an alien is inadmissible to the United States.

United States · United States Congress · 15 December 2015

This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to search all public records, including Internet sites and social media profiles, to determine if an alien applying for admission to the United States is inadmissible under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Refugee Resettlement Fund Act of 2015

United States · United States Congress · 11 December 2015

Refugee Resettlement Fund Act of 2015 This bill permits an alien applying for U.S. refugee admission who is referred for resettlement by the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) to be admitted only after the Department of the Treasury, in coordination with the revenue agency of the state in which the alien is to be resettled and a representative of the local government where the alien is to be resettled, determines that any admission and resettlement cost incurred by the federal, state, or local government is financed by a Refugee Resettlement Fund payment. The bill establishes the Refugee Resettlement Fund in the Treasury, for deposit of only those amounts received from the UNHCR for refugee resettlement purposes.

To suspend the admission to the United States of refugees, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2015

This bill prohibits a federal agency or instrumentality from using federal funds, fees, or resources to admit an alien into the United States as a refugee or to provide refugee resettlement assistance until each of the following occur: a joint resolution is enacted into law approving the most recent number of refugee admissions determined by the President; the Congressional Budget Office reports to Congress regarding specified refugee-related costs; the Department of Homeland Security reports to Congress regarding terrorist- and criminal-related activities of aliens admitted as refugees and asylees, and the number of such aliens subsequently removed from the United States for any reason; and the President reports to Congress regarding the preceding year's cost of refugee admissions, and recommendations for federal program spending cuts to offset such cost.

A bill to reauthorize the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2015

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to reauthorize the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) through FY2020. SCAAP provides payments to state, local, and tribal governments to offset the costs of incarcerating certain undocumented criminal aliens. It expands the definition of “undocumented criminal alien” to include an alien who has been charged with a felony or two or more misdemeanors. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Justice to reimburse a state, local, or tribal government for costs to incarcerate a criminal alien whose immigration status cannot be verified by the Department of Homeland Security. (Currently, a criminal alien with lawful immigration status does not meet the criteria for SCAAP reimbursement.)

American Jobs First Act of 2015

United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2015

American Jobs First Act of 2015 This bill amends the the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise the H-1B nonimmigrant visa (specialty occupation) program, including by declaring that a petitioner employer: must offer an annual wage to the H-1B nonimmigrant that is the greater of the annual wage paid to the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident employee who did identical or similar work during the previous 2 years, or $110,000, if offered not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act (with an annual inflation adjustment); will not require an H-1B nonimmigrant to pay a penalty for ending employment before the agreed on date; will not replace or contract to replace a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident with one or more nonimmigrants; has not displaced, terminated without cause, or otherwise involuntarily separated a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident employee during the four-year period beginning two years before the H-1B visa petition was filed; and shall attest in the H-1B application that during the previous two-year period there has not been an employee-initiated strike or an employer-initiated lockout, and that no employee in the same or substantially similar occupational classification has been displaced, terminated without cause, or otherwise involuntarily separated without cause. The bill also revises penalty and transparency requirements, and eliminates the H-1B-dependent employer category. The Department of Labor shall establish a process for the receipt, investigation, and disposition of complaints respecting an employer's: (1) failure to meet an application condition, or (2) misrepresentation of material facts in an application. No nonimmigrant foreign student present in the United States may be provided U.S. employment authorization under the optional practical training program (or any successor program) without an express Act of Congress authorizing such a program. An H-1B nonimmigrant must have a doctorate or post-doctorate degree, or the foreign equivalent of such a degree. A nonimmigrant with an undergraduate degree or a combination of undergraduate and masters degrees (or the foreign equivalents) must have at least 10 years of relevant post-degree experience for program eligibility. The bill gives employment placement priority to a nonimmigrant with one or more doctorate or post-doctorate degrees from a U.S.-based university. Foreign educational institutions must have educational standards certification from Labor. An employer may not require a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident employee to sign any nondisparagement or nondisclosure agreement that conditions receipt of any financial or nonfinancial benefit from the employer upon the nondisclosure of the employer's potential misuse of the H-1B visa program. A U.S. district court shall have jurisdiction to address civil actions by any person claiming H-1B program misuse. A U.S. court of appeals shall have jurisdiction over related appeals for cases originating from a U.S. district court within that circuit. The Supreme Court shall have jurisdiction to address appeals of civil actions by any person claiming H-1B program misuse for cases originating from any U.S. court of appeals. The bill eliminates the diversity visa lottery program.

OVERSIGHT OF THE UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES

United States · United States House of Representatives · 9 December 2015

State Refugee Security Act of 2015

United States · United States Congress · 9 December 2015

State Refugee Security Act of 2015 This bill directs the Office of Refugee Resettlement to notify the state agency responsible for coordinating the placement or resettlement of an alien refugee not later than 21 days before the alien's arrival in the state. No alien refugee shall be placed or resettled in a state if the governor certifies to the Office of Refugee Resettlement that it has failed, in the sole determination of the governor, to provide adequate assurance that such person does not present a security risk to the state.

Enemy Expatriation Act

United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2015

Enemy Expatriation Act This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include traveling abroad to join, participate in, train with, fight for, conspire with, or otherwise support a foreign terrorist organization to the list of acts for which U.S. nationals shall lose their nationality.

Protecting American Jobs Act

United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2015

Protecting American Jobs Act This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to reduce the fiscal year cap on H-1B nonimmigrant visas (specialty occupations) from 65,000 to 50,000. If for a fiscal year more than 50,000 H-1B petitions are filed, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall allocate available visas to petitions for those workers who will earn the highest wages. IF H-1B visa petitions seek more than 20,000 aliens who have earned a master's or higher degree from a U.S. institution of higher education, DHS shall also allocate the available visas for those petitions seeking such workers who will earn the highest wages.

State Refugee Security Act of 2015

United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2015

State Refugee Security Act of 2015 This bill directs the Office of Refugee Resettlement to notify the state agency responsible for coordinating the placement or resettlement of an alien refugee not later than 21 days before the alien's arrival in the state. No alien refugee shall be placed or resettled in a state if the governor certifies to the Office of Refugee Resettlement that it has failed, in the sole determination of the governor, to provide adequate assurance that such person does not present a security risk to the state.

Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015

United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2015

Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015 This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act regarding the visa waiver program to require that an alien, when applying for program admission, possess a valid unexpired passport that: is machine-readable, tamper-resistant, incorporates document authentication identifiers, and otherwise satisfies the internationally accepted standard for machine readability; and beginning on April 1, 2016, is an electronic passport that is fraud-resistant, contains relevant biographic and biometric information, and satisfies internationally accepted standards for electronic passports. A program country must certify that: it issues passports that satisfy the internationally accepted standard for machine readability, and as of April 1, 2016, passports that satisfy internationally accepted standards for electronic passports; and by October 1, 2016, except for travel between countries within the Schengen Zone (26 European countries that have abolished passport and any other border control at their common borders), it has in place mechanisms to validate such passports at each key port of entry. An alien shall be ineligible for program participation who: has been present, at any time on or after March 1, 2011, in Iraq or Syria, in a country designated as one that has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism, or in any other country or area of concern designated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); and regardless of whether the alien is a national of a program country, is not a national of Iraq or Syria, a country designated as a country that has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism, or any other country or area of concern. Such prohibitions shall not apply to an alien who was present in such a country to perform military or official government service for a program country. DHS may waive such prohibitions if in U.S. law enforcement or national security interests. DHS shall determine and review annually whether such prohibitions shall apply to any country or area using specified criteria. A program country shall: report the loss or theft of one of its national's passports to the United States within 24 hours; and except in the case of a country without an international airport, and except for travel between countries within the Schengen Zone, certify to DHS that it is screening each entering or departing non-citizen or non-national for unlawful activity by using Interpol databases and notices, or other means designated by DHS. If DHS and the State Department jointly determine that a program country is not sharing information or conducting required screening, DHS shall terminate the country's program status, subject to specified conditions for reinstatement. DHS shall evaluate program countries annually and identify and suspend from program participation any country whose nationals present a high U.S. security risk, taking into consideration specified criteria. DHS shall expand Federal Air Marshal operations. The electronic travel authorization system is renamed the electronic system for travel authorization. It is the sense of Congress that: the International Civil Aviation Organization should establish electronic passport standards and obligate member countries to utilize them as soon as possible, and such passports should be a combined paper and electronic passport that contains biographic and biometric information that can be used to authenticate identity through an embedded chip.

OVERSIGHT OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW

United States · United States House of Representatives · 3 December 2015

To provide that an alien who has traveled to Iraq or Syria during the 5-year period prior to the alien's application for admission is ineligible to be admitted to the United States under the visa waiver program, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 3 December 2015

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit the visa waiver admission of an alien who has traveled to Iraq or Syria during the preceding five-year period. The Department of Homeland Security may waive such prohibition.

Terrorist Refugee Infiltration Prevention Act of 2015

United States · United States Congress · 1 December 2015

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 designated by the State Department or by an Act of Congress as a victim of genocide (and the 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 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 must substantiate any such assertions with the State Department, DOD, the FBI, and the DNI.

Visa Waiver Program Security Enhancement Act

United States · United States Congress · 1 December 2015

Visa Waiver Program Security Enhancement Act This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act regarding the visa waiver program to prohibit a national of a program country who has traveled to Iraq or Syria at any time during the most recent five-year period from traveling to the United States without a visa. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may prohibit a national of a program country from traveling to the United States under the program if the national has traveled during the past five years to a country in which: (1) a designated foreign terrorist organization has a significant presence, and (2) prohibiting the national from traveling to the United States under the program is in U.S. national security interests. An alien must, at the time of application for program admission, have a valid, unexpired, tamper-resistant, machine-readable passport that incorporates biometric and document authentication identifiers that comply with standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization. Any alien applying for program admission must have a passport that meets these requirements. (The exception for pre-October 26, 2005, passports under the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002 is eliminated.) A program country must: (1) enter into and comply with an agreement with the United States to assist in the operation of an air marshal program, and (2) comply with U.S. aviation and airport security standards. A country that does not fully implement information sharing agreements shall be terminated from the program. In determining whether to designate a country as a program country or whether a program country should retain its designation DHS shall consider: the country's capacity to collect, analyze, and share data concerning dangerous individuals; the country's screening and sharing of lost or stolen passport information; whether the country collects, analyzes, and shares biometric and other information about individuals other than U.S. nationals who are applying for asylum, refugee status, or another form of non-refoulement protection in such country; and whether a country shares intelligence about foreign fighters with the United States and with multilateral organizations. DHS shall: ensure that each alien traveling to the United States under an approved electronic system for travel authorization has submitted biometric information, including photographs and fingerprints, before boarding a U.S.-bound conveyance; prioritize implementation of these biometric requirements in program countries that have a significant number of nationals who have traveled to fight with, or to assist, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL); and ensure within five years that such biometric information includes photographs and fingerprints. DHS may determine that a program country is in compliance with such biometric requirements if the country implements an agreement meeting specified criteria. Program fee provisions are revised.

SECURE Act

United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2015

Stop Extremists Coming Under Refugee Entry Act or the SECURE Act This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to notify each alien admitted as a refugee or asylee that he or she must register with and be interviewed and fingerprinted by DHS. DHS shall screen, perform a security review, and monitor all individuals seeking asylum or refugee status to ensure that they do not present a national security or terrorism risk. The Department of State may not approve a refugee application and DHS may not approve an asylum application for any national from the following high risk countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen, or the Palestinian Territories. This moratorium may be lifted when specified conditions are met. DHS, in cooperation with the State Department, shall ensure that any new visa application is not approved: (1) for at least 30 days, and (2) until completion of an enhanced security screening. Unless otherwise permitted under this Act, DHS, in cooperation with the State Department, shall ensure that no alien enters the United States until after 30 days of security assessments have been conducted, regardless of whether or not the alien's country of origin is a visa waiver country. DHS may approve qualified applicants for enrollment in the global entry trusted traveler program regardless of the applicant's nationality or country of habitual residence. DHS may not approve any application for U.S. entry from an alien (other than a trusted traveler) who is a national of, or who is applying from, a high-risk country until: (1) completion of the congressional review process, and (2) enactment of a law authorizing termination of the visa moratorium. DHS, the State Department, and the Director of National Intelligence shall certify jointly to Congress that: (1) a national security screening process has been implemented that significantly improves the government's ability to identify security risks posed by aliens from high-risk countries, (2) the biometric entry-exit control system has been implemented, and (3) a policy has been implemented to remove aliens who have overstayed their period of lawful U.S. presence. In order to carry out 100% land exit tracking, DHS shall integrate the records collected through the automated entry-exit control system into an interoperable data system and any other database necessary to correlate an alien's entry and exit data. DHS may not: process travel documents of U.S. citizens (with certain exceptions) while documenting the departure of outbound individuals at each land point of entry along the Southern or Northern border; or designate an outbound U.S. citizen for secondary inspection or collect biometric information from a U.S. citizen under outbound inspection procedures unless criminal or other prohibited activity has been detected or is strongly suspected. An individual shall not be permitted to leave the United States if, during outbound inspection, DHS detects previous unresolved criminal activity by the individual. Any individual in asylum status, refugee status, legal permanent resident status, or any other permanent or temporary visa status who: intends to remain in the United States in such status for longer than six months shall submit to DHS a signed affidavit stating that the alien has not voted in any federal election, and will not register to vote or vote in any such election while in such status; or illegally registers to vote or votes in any federal election after receiving such status or visa shall not be eligible to apply for permanent residence or citizenship, or shall lose permanent residence status if ready granted it and be subject to deportation. State and local governments: shall require individuals registering to vote in federal elections to provide proof of citizenship, may not accept an affirmation of citizenship as proof of citizenship for voter registration purposes, and may require identification information from voter registration applicants. Beginning one year after admission, a refugee or asylee: (1) is ineligible for assistance under specified federal means-tested programs, and (2) may not claim the earned income tax credit. An alien who applies for and receives such assistance or who claims and is allowed such credit shall be permanently prohibited from U.S. naturalization.

Student Visa Security Improvement Act

United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2015

Student Visa Security Improvement Act This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to: require DHS employees to review the applications, conduct in-person interviews where appropriate, and conduct on-site reviews of applications and supporting documentation with respect to student and exchange program visa applicants prior to final visa adjudication, with emphasis on determining whether an applicant is inadmissible for terrorist-related activities; require an institution or exchange visitor program participating in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program to ensure that each covered student or exchange visitor is an active program participant, is observed, and is reported to DHS if he or she transfers institutions or academic majors; provide Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) access to appropriate employees of a SEVIS program sponsor under specified circumstances; and require a SEVIS upgrade to add data fields that include verification that students are meeting minimum academic standards.

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide that aliens who were present in certain countries may not be admitted under the visa waiver program, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2015

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit the visa waiver admission of an alien who was present during the preceding five-year period in: a country designated by the Department of State or any other provision of law as a country whose government has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism; Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, or Nigeria; or any other country determined appropriate by the State Department, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of the Treasury, and the Director of National Intelligence.

BRAIN Act

United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2015

Best Return on America's Investment Now Act or the BRAIN Act This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make up to 10% of the worldwide employment-based immigration level available to qualified immigrants who: (1) hold a doctorate degree in a field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM degree) from a U.S. doctoral institution of higher education; and (2) have taken all doctoral courses in a STEM field, including all courses taken by correspondence or by distance education, while physically present in the United States. The number of immigrant visas available to skilled workers, professionals, and other workers is reduced. The computation of the total number of immigrant visas that may be made available to natives of any single foreign state or dependent area in a fiscal year is revised. The permanent priority date for any employment-based petition shall be the date on which the petition is filed with Department of Homeland Security (or the Department of State, if applicable), unless such filing was preceded by the filing of a labor certification with the Department of Labor, in which case that date shall constitute the priority date. An alien who is the beneficiary of an employment-based petition that was approvable when filed shall retain that petition's priority date in the consideration of any subsequently filed employment-based petition.

Security Verification for Refugees Act

United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2015

Security Verification for Refugees Act 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, Syria, or a country designated as a high-risk country; has no nationality and whose last habitual residence was in Iraq, Syria, or a country designated as a high-risk country; 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. The Department of State shall submit annually to Congress: a list of each country, a national or resident of which submitted an application for U.S. refugee admission; an evaluation of the threat posed by aliens who are nationals or residents of each listed country; and a description of any presence of terrorism, human rights violations, human trafficking, drug trafficking, religious persecution, or other violations of international law, any presence of al Qaeda, Islamic State, or other terrorist groups, or any presence of transnational criminal organizations.

Secure Refugee Process Act of 2015

United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2015

Secure Refugee Process Act of 2015 This bill declares that no alien shall be admitted as a refugee: whose identity has not been satisfactorily established pursuant to Department of Homeland Security procedures, which shall address any insufficient, conflicting, or unreliable information, including biographic and biometric data that is unresolved at the time of admission; and if, by the time of admission, the alien's identity has not been checked against specified federal records or databases to determine any national security, criminal, or other grounds on which the alien may be inadmissible. An alien may only be admitted as a refugee after DHS certifies that all provisions of this Act have been complied with and that the alien has not been firmly resettled in a safe third country. DHS shall report to Congress monthly regarding the total number of refugee applicants of special interest and the number of such applicants whose applications were denied. The Inspector General of DHS shall conduct an annual risk-based review of a sampling of certifications and report its findings to Congress.

Give States a Chance Act of 2015

United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2015

Give States a Chance Act of 2015 This bill authorizes the governor of any state in which it is proposed to place or resettle as a refugee an alien meeting certain criteria to refuse such placement or resettlement if the governor: has not properly been informed of the intended sponsorship process for the refugee, has determined that the proposed location for the refugee within the state is inappropriate because the proportion of refugees and comparable entrants in that location's population is too high, or is not reasonably satisfied that the refugee does not post a security threat. A covered refugee may not be admitted to the United States until the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) certifies to Congress that he or she is not a U.S. security threat. A "covered refugee" 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. The Inspector General of DHS shall review 20% of all certifications made each fiscal year. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) shall ensure that each covered refugee receives a thorough background investigation before admission. A covered refugee may not be admitted until the FBI certifies that such an investigation has been done.

To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to collect data regarding foreign travel, or repatriation, to the country of nationality or last habitual residence by an alien admitted to the United States as a refugee, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2015

This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to collect data, and report annually to Congress, regarding instances in which an alien admitted to the United States as a refugee returns temporarily or permanently: (1) to the country of the alien's nationality at the time of such admission; or (2) in the case of an alien having no nationality at the time of such admission, to the country in which the alien last habitually resided prior to such admission. The bill prohibits DHS from admitting aliens into the United States as refugees until Congress passes a joint resolution giving DHS authority to resume admitting such aliens.

Expressing disapproval of the President's plan to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees.

United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2015

Disapproves the President's plan to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees.

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the treatment of State Governors who have made a determination with respect to Syrian refugees.

United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2015

Declares that, in the case of a governor requesting that Syrian refugees not be resettled in his or her state (whether temporarily or permanently), no federal official should take any adverse action against, or withhold funds from, the state, and no federal official should take any other action to persuade or entice the governor to reverse such request.

Terrorist Refugee Infiltration Prevention Act of 2015

United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2015

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.

American SAFE Act of 2015

United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2015

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.

American SAFE Act of 2015

United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2015

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.

Syrian Refugee Verification and Safety Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2015

Syrian Refugee Verification and Safety Act This bill declares that: (1) no alien who is a refugee because of the conflict in Syria (covered alien) may be admitted to the United States as a refugee, (2) no funds may be expended to process refugee applications for covered aliens, and (3) no funds may be expended by the Department of State or the Department of Health and Human Services to resettle covered aliens in the United States. These restrictions shall remain in effect until 30 days after the President certifies to Congress regarding: protocols and interagency coordination to adjudicate such U.S. admissions and resettlement; evaluation and review of such protocols and coordination by the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community; State Department submission to Congress of an updated Congressional Presentation Document of the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration for Fiscal Year 2016 that reflects security or other risks posed by covered aliens; and a State Department briefing to Congress on the increase in covered aliens seeking refugee admission and so admitted, including information on any terrorist conduct. This certification: (1) may not be submitted to Congress before 270 days, and (2) shall not have any effect if Congress enacts into law a joint resolution of disapproval within 15 days.

To prohibit obligation of Federal funds for admission of refugees from certain countries.

United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2015

This bill prohibits federal funds from being obligated for the U.S. refugee admission of any alien: (1) whose country of nationality is Syria, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, or Yemen; or (2) in the case of an alien having no nationality, the country in which the alien last habitually resided is Syria, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, or Yemen.

Refugee Relocation Security Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2015

Refugee Relocation Security Act This bill prohibits the Department of Homeland Security (HHS) from admitting an alien from Syria or Iraq into the United States as a refugee until Congress passes a joint resolution authorizing DHS to resume such admissions. The President may not relocate refugees to any state that explicitly rejects their admission into its respective state territory or tribal land through the direction of: (1) the governor of the affected state, or (2) an Act of the state legislature of the affected state.

States' Right of Refugee Refusal Act of 2015

United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2015

States' Right of Refugee Refusal Act of 2015 This bill prohibits the Office of Refugee Resettlement or the federal agency administering refugee resettlement from resettling or coordinating placement of any refugee in a state whose government has communicated to the Office that the state government does not accede to such resettlement or placement.

Defund the Syrian Refugee Resettlement Program Act of 2015

United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2015

Defund the Syrian Refugee Resettlement Program Act of 2015 This bill prohibits federal funds from being obligated for the U.S. refugee admission of any alien who is a national of Syria or whose last habitual residence was in Syria during the period that the civil war in Syria is ongoing, as determined by the Department of Homeland Security.

To prohibit obligation of Federal funds for admission of refugees from Syria, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2015

This bill prohibits the obligation of federal funds for the U.S. refugee admission of any alien: (1) whose country of nationality is Syria, or (2) who has no nationality but who last habitually resided in Syria. Such prohibition shall terminate only upon the approval in the House of Representatives and in the Senate of a resolution of termination.

Secure Fence Restoration Act of 2015

United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2015

Secure Fence Restoration Act of 2015 This bill amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 with respect to construction of border fencing and road improvements to direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to complete the required 700-mile southwest border fencing and priority-area fencing by December 31, 2017. The Secure Fence Act of 2006 is amended to direct DHS, in consultation with state and local officials along the U.S.-Mexico border, to achieve operational control over U.S. international land and maritime borders by December 31, 2017. National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act Neither the Department of the Interior nor the Department of Agriculture may prohibit or restrict U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) activities on federal land under their respective jurisdictions within 100 miles of an international land border to: execute search and rescue operations; and prevent unlawful entries into the United States, including entries by terrorists, other unlawful aliens, instruments of terrorism, narcotics, and other contraband through such border. CBP shall have access to such lands to conduct: (1) road and barrier construction and maintenance, (2) vehicular patrols, (3) surveillance activities, and (4) deployment of temporary tactical infrastructure.

Syrian Refugee Verification and Safety Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2015

Syrian Refugee Verification and Safety Act This bill declares that: (1) no alien who is a refugee because of the conflict in Syria (covered alien) may be admitted to the United States as a refugee, (2) no funds may be expended to process refugee applications for covered aliens, and (3) no funds may be expended by the Department of State or the Department of Health and Human Services to resettle covered aliens in the United States. These restrictions shall remain in effect until 30 days after the President certifies to Congress regarding: protocols and interagency coordination to adjudicate such U.S. admissions and resettlement; evaluation and review of such protocols and coordination by the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community; State Department submission to Congress of an updated Congressional Presentation Document of the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration for Fiscal Year 2016 that reflects security or other risks posed by covered aliens; and a State Department briefing to Congress on the increase in covered aliens seeking refugee admission and so admitted, including information on any terrorist conduct. This certification: (1) may not be submitted to Congress before 270 days, and (2) shall not have any effect if Congress enacts into law a joint resolution of disapproval within 15 days.

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide that refugees may not be resettled in any State where the governor of that State has taken any action formally disapproving of the resettlement of refugees in that State, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2015

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit the resettlement of refugees in a state whose governor has taken any action formally disapproving the resettlement of refugees, or of certain refugees, in that state during that fiscal year. A state: disapproving the resettlement of any refugees may not receive specified refugee resettlement funds during that fiscal year, or disapproving the resettlement of only certain refugees shall receive a reduction of such funds proportionate to the number of refugees not resettled.

Save Christians from Genocide Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2015

Save Christians from Genocide Act This bill recognizes that Christians and Yazidis in Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Iran, and Libya are targets of genocide. The Department of Homeland Security shall provide for expedited visa processing and shall ensure that such applications receive first priority among refugee and (family- or employment-based) immigrant applications for an alien who: is a citizen or national of Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Iran, or Libya, or in the case of an alien having no nationality, whose country of last habitual residence was Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Iran, or Libya; is a Christian or Yazidi; and is seeking refugee or immigrant admission to the United States.

POWER Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2015

Protect Our Workers from Exploitation and Retaliation Act or the POWER Act This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to exclude from the definition of "immigrant" a nonimmigrant alien who files a petition for U visa status (set aside for victims of crimes and their immediate family members) if the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) determines that the alien: has suffered abuse or harm as a result of having been a victim of criminal activity; has suffered substantial abuse or harm related to specified labor or employment violations related to a workplace claim (workplace violation); is a victim of specified criminal activity and would suffer extreme hardship upon removal; has suffered a workplace violation and would suffer extreme hardship upon removal; has been helpful in a workplace violation investigation; or has filed, is a material witness in, or is likely to be helpful in the investigation of, a workplace claim and reasonably fears or has been the victim of an action involving force, physical restraint, retaliation, or abuse of the immigration or other legal process by the employer. DHS may permit an alien to remain and work temporarily in the United States if the alien: (1) has filed for relief as a victim of crime or of violations of labor or employment laws or regulations; (2) has filed, or is a material witness to, a workplace claim; and (3) has been helpful in a federal, state, or local law enforcement action related to the claim. The bill sets forth workplace claim procedural requirements and protections in an enforcement action leading to a removal proceeding. The bill establishes exceptions to a stay of removal or other specified relief where DHS establishes that: (1) the alien has been convicted of a felony, or (2) a workplace claim was filed in bad faith with intent to delay or avoid the alien's removal.