US passes bill to restrict entry of Syrian, Iraqi refugees

Washington: Republican-dominated US House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to bar Syrian and Iraqi refugees from entering the US unless they pass strict background checks. The move comes despite a threat by President Barack Obama to veto the bill.

The bill, which seeks to impose more stringent security provisions on already robust screening of Iraqi and Syrian refugees, was voted 289 in favour to 137 opposed.

Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">It's a major setback for the Obama administration, because the US President was opposed to such a move and also because a large block of Democratic lawmakers voted in favour of the bill, which now needs to be passed by the Senate.

Should it pass the upper chamber, the White House has said Obama would veto the bill. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said the bill won't make it to Obama's desk.