Analysis of Refugee Program Reform Bill

WASHINGTON, March 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Center for Immigration Studies has published an analysis of the "Refugee Program Integrity Restoration Act of 2016" (H.R. 4731). The bill, introduced by Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho) and House Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), was approved by the Judiciary Committee last week. Modernizing the U.S. refugee program is an urgent task, given that over half a million refugees have been resettled in the U.S. since President Obama took office and most of today's refugees come from nations with a significant terrorist presence.

Dan Cadman, a fellow with the Center and author of the report, said "Although I would have liked for this bill to also address the asylum program, it does make changes with clear merit to the refugee program, changes which would reduce the program's risks to national security." He continued, "The bill also properly places decisions on the number of refugees to be admitted in the hands of Congress, and respects the rights of citizens by allowing states and localities to refuse refugee resettlement in their communities."

The analysis is here: http://www.cis.org/HR-4731-a-Bill-to-Reform-the-Refugee-Program.

Highlights of the bill include:

• Setting the number of refugees resettling in the U.S. at 60,000 annually, with upward changes requiring congressional approval; 
• Requiring refugee status be terminated if a person returns to the country from which persecution was claimed;
• Permitting states or localities to prevent refugee resettlement, whether by legislative or executive action or ballot initiative;
• Authorizing security vetting for refugees until the time they gain legal permanent residence;
• Extending the period after which refugees adjust to permanent residence from one to three years;
• Mandating the review of refugees' internet social media postings during the application process;
• Requiring the Department of Homeland Security to establish a fraud detection program for refugee processing, to include fraud detection and national security officials present at initial refugee screenings;
• Tightening the statutory definition of "refugee;"
• Mandating that GAO track and report the use rates of taxpayer-funded public assistance and welfare programs.

Contact: Marguerite Telford
[email protected], 202-466-8185

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120806/MM52838LOGO

SOURCE Center for Immigration Studies