Skip to main content

Rep. Calvert Legislation Would Enhance Refugee Vetting Process

December 18, 2015

Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) introduced the Secure Accountability for Emigres and Refugees (SAFER) Act, H.R. 4291. The SAFER Act would add requirements to the Syrian and Iraqi refugee security vetting process.

"It has become all too clear to many Americans that our security screening processes for individuals wishing to enter our country are insufficient," said Rep. Calvert. "Peaceful people who wish to come to our country with good intentions have nothing to fear with these additional measures. I believe these are responsible steps we must take to protect Americans."

The SAFER Act builds upon the SAFE Act (HR 4038) which passed the House on November 19, 2015. The SAFE Act empowered our security agencies to set strict requirements for entry as refugees and halted admissions until such standards are set. The SAFER Act would define the requirements to fully vet Syrian and Iraqi refugees before they can be admitted into the United States:

  • All Syrian and Iraqi refugees regardless of background or religious affiliation must pass a certified polygraph examination. A polygraph will be essential in determining whether a refugee is truly coming to the United States to escape oppression or if they are coming here with possibly violent intentions. It is also necessary since for many refugees we only have their word to rely on as to who they are, where they are from and why they are coming here. There are no corresponding government databases to verify their claims nor is there the ability to conduct a sufficient background check due to the conflicts in the region and displacement of entire communities.
  • All Syrian and Iraqi refugees regardless of background or religious affiliation must agree to provide biometric data and have that data compared to known databases in order to validate they have no known history of terrorist activities.
  • All Syrian and Iraqi refugees regardless of background or religious affiliation must agree to provide DNA samples and have those samples compared to known databases in order to validate they have no known history of terrorist activities.
  • All Syrian and Iraqi refugees will be subject to a background check that includes an investigation of all online activity, including posts to social media.

For more information, click here and to read the bill text click here.

###