.svg) | |
| Long title | American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015 |
|---|---|
| Acronyms(colloquial) | SAFE |
| Nicknames | American SAFE Act of 2015 |
| Announced in | the114th United States Congress |
| Sponsored by | Michael McCaul |
| Number of co-sponsors | 103 |
| Codification | |
| Agencies affected | FBI,Department of Homeland Security,National Intelligence Program |
| Legislative history | |
| |
TheSAFE Act (full titleAmerican Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015) was a United States legislative proposal for Syrian and Iraqi refugees that would require extra background investigation before entry into the US.
Additional procedure to authorize admission for each refugee[1]
The bill was first introduced in theHouse on November 17, 2015,H.R. 4038 byMichael McCaul.[1] It was passed by the House, but on January 20, 2016, it failedcloture in the senate (also known as afilibuster.)[2]
The SAFE Act was created in response to the November 2015Paris attacks, out of concern thatISIL terrorists would enter the United States posing asrefugees fleeing Syria.[3]
FBI DirectorJames Comey said the SAFE Act "seeks to micromanage the process in a way that is counter-productive to national security, to our humanitarian obligation, and the overall ability to focus on Homeland Security".[4]
Vice-President of the European CommissionFederica Mogherini pointed out that the Paris attackers were EU citizens, not Syrian refugees.[5]
Barack Obama threatened to veto the legislation if passed.[4]
It is all EU citizens so far. This can change with the hours, but so far it is quite clear it is an issue of internal domestic security.