US house approves bill to curb entry of Syrian, Iraqi refugees

US House of Representatives has approved a bill that seeks to block Syrian and Iraqi refugees from entering the US, in a major setback to the refugee policy of the Obama administration.

With almost unanimous support from Republicans and 47 Democrats voting in favor, the House approved by 289 votes to 137 the American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act, which would require the secretary of homeland security, the FBI director and the director of national intelligence to each certify that a refugee was not a threat to national security before they were admitted to the country, The Guardian reported.

The White House had earlier said that US President Barack Obama will veto the legislation if it is also passed by the Senate.

However, if this margin in the House was repeated in both chambers of Congress following a presidential veto, Congress could override such a veto.

The measure is unlikely to receive a vote in the Senate because of the 60-vote super-majority needed to consider a bill under Senate rules.