Terrorist Refugee Infiltration Prevention Act of 2015

H.R. 4143, the Terrorist Refugee Infiltration Prevention Act of 2015, proposes a temporary ban on admitting refugees from countries where terrorist organizations control significant territory, specifically naming Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen. Under this bill, individuals from these regions could only be admitted if they are members of a group officially recognized as victims of genocide and pass the highest level of security and biometric screening. Furthermore, admission would require a joint certification from five major federal agencies—including the FBI and the Department of National Intelligence—confirming that the individual poses no threat to national security.

The practical impact of this legislation would be a significant tightening of the refugee vetting process, likely resulting in a substantial decrease in the number of refugees entering the United States from the designated countries. While the bill includes exceptions for individuals who have provided "substantial assistance" to the U.S. government, everyday citizens would see a more rigorous, multi-agency verification system intended to prevent members of foreign terrorist organizations from utilizing the refugee program. The bill has not advanced past the committee stage since its introduction.