Bill Approved by US House Suspends Syrian Refugee Program
The US House of Representatives voted 289-137 to suspend the plan of allowing Syrian and Iraqi refugees to enter the US. President Barack Obama will be vetoing the legislation, should it reach his desk. The Obama administration had previously planned to incorporate a program that would allow at least 10,000 Syrian refugees to be admitted next fiscal year without religious screening. However, in the aftermath of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, lawmakers feel that terrorists may take advantage of this program to fulfill their own agendas. The bill would require refugees from Syria and Iraq to receive additional background investigations from the FBI, Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence. The bill would not impose any religious screenings. Obama has been asked to suspend the refugee program until proper measures have been implemented to ensure national security.
The bill will now go to the Senate, where the final decision is to be made.
