House passes bill calling for stringent refugee screening

Barack Obama
(Image credit: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

In an easy win, the House voted 289-137 on Thursday to approve a bill that requires strict new screening measures for Syrian and Iraqi refugees seeking to enter the United States. In the wake of the Paris attacks, some believe that Obama's plans to allow 10,000 Syrian refugees next year could allow terrorists to slip into the U.S. All known Paris attackers so far, however, have been French or Belgian nationals.

In a defiance of party lines, 47 Democrats backed the bill; three Republicans voted against it. The legislation is expected to have a more difficult time passing the Senate. President Obama has vowed a veto.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.