在2015年领袖选举之后，在前座工作了近17年的库珀回到了后座。<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/15/yvette-cooper-to-focus-attention-on-response-to-refugee-crisis|title=Yvette Cooper to focus attention on response to refugee crisis|last=Wintour|first=Patrick|date=15 September 2015|work=|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=9 October 2016|via=|archive-date=2016-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011021904/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/15/yvette-cooper-to-focus-attention-on-response-to-refugee-crisis|dead-url=no}}</ref>在现有的[[欧洲移民危机]]工作的基础上，库珀被任命为工党难民工作特别小组主席，与地方当局、社区组织和工会对危机的可持续和人道主义应对开展合作。<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/14/jeremy-corbyn-labour-shadow-cabinet-in-full|title=Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet in full|last=Walker|first=Peter|date=16 September 2015|work=|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=9 October 2016|via=|archive-date=2016-08-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818061215/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/14/jeremy-corbyn-labour-shadow-cabinet-in-full|dead-url=no}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.yvettecooper.com/labour_s_refugee_taskforce|title=Labour's Refugee Taskforce|last=|first=|date=29 October 2015|work=|newspaper=Yvette Cooper|access-date=9 October 2016|via=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010044351/http://www.yvettecooper.com/labour_s_refugee_taskforce|archive-date=2016-10-10|dead-url=yes}}</ref>她在2016年的工党年会上讲了这个话题。<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.yvettecooper.com/yvette_s_speech_to|title=Yvette's speech to Labour Annual Conference 2016|last=|first=|date=29 September 2016|work=|newspaper=Yvette Cooper|access-date=9 October 2016|via=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010045455/http://www.yvettecooper.com/yvette_s_speech_to|archive-date=2016-10-10|dead-url=yes}}</ref>

2016年10月19日，库珀当选为内政事务专责委员会主席，获得的票数多于候选人[[卡罗琳·弗林特]]、[[竹卡·烏穆納]]和{{le|保罗·弗林|Paul Flynn (politician)}}。<ref name=":0" />作为主席，库珀发起了关于移民问题的公众意见全国调查，<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/feb/02/yvette-cooper-calls-for-national-debate-on-immigration-as-she-launches-inquiry|title=Yvette Cooper calls for national debate on immigration as she launches inquiry|last=Stewart|first=Heather|date=2 February 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=26 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327081340/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/feb/02/yvette-cooper-calls-for-national-debate-on-immigration-as-she-launches-inquiry|archive-date=2017-03-27|dead-url=no|last2=Asthana|first2=Anushka|language=|issn=}}</ref>在紧急调查“难民计划”后，批评政府于2017年2月结束该计划的决定。<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/20/mps-warn-over-child-refugees-sleeping-rough-after-dubs-scheme-closure|title=MPs warn over child refugees sleeping rough after Dubs scheme closure|last=Elgot|first=Jessica|date=20 February 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=26 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327081658/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/20/mps-warn-over-child-refugees-sleeping-rough-after-dubs-scheme-closure|archive-date=2017-03-27|dead-url=no|language=|issn=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/06/home-office-decision-to-end-dubs-scheme-not-backed-by-evidence|title=Home Office decision to end Dubs scheme 'not backed by evidence'|last=Jackson|first=Jasper|date=5 March 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=26 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327081615/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/06/home-office-decision-to-end-dubs-scheme-not-backed-by-evidence|archive-date=2017-03-27|dead-url=no|language=|issn=}}</ref>