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US Lawmakers Vote to Curb Syrian Refugees Entering Country

© Sputnik / Igor Mikhalev / Go to the mediabankUnited States Capitol
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The US House of Representatives has passed a bill aimed at strengthening the vetting process for Syrian refugees attempting to enter the United States.

Passing with a vote of 289-137 in the Republican-controlled House, the American Security Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act will now move to the Senate, where it is not expected to pass.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks during a news conference in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015 - Sputnik International
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President Obama has also vowed to veto the bill if it passes through Congress.

If passed into law, the bill would require increased verification of vetting procedures already in place to ensure terrorists do not enter the country disguised as refugees.

The terror attacks in Paris last week have led a number of US lawmakers to reconsider the Obama administration's pledge to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees into the United States. Over two dozen governors said they would refuse to allow refugees into their states, citing concerns that some of the individuals seeking asylum may be members of the self-proclaimed Islamic State terrorist group.

Syrian and Iraqi refugees currently go through an extensive vetting process. Lasting, on average, between 18 and 24 months, individuals undergo background checks from nine federal agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.

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