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H.R.4218 / 114th Congress

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

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Dec 10, 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.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
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Who introduced it

Rep. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN-7] · R–TN

Committees

  • Judiciary Committee
6 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

  2. Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

  3. Introduced in House

  4. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jan 3, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.4218 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.4218 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.4218 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.4218 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

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