The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed a controversial bill on Thursday that would temporarily block Syrian refugees from entering the United States, despite President Barack Obama's promise to veto it.

Following last week's terrorist attacks in Paris, House Republicans proposed H.R. 4038 to strengthen screenings for Syrian and Iraqi refugees who want to enter the U.S., reports MSNBC. The measure adds stricter requirements for refugees, including FBI background checks and mandates that four top U.S. law-enforcement and national security officials personally approve each refugee to make sure that they are not a threat to U.S. security.

In turn, the bill "effectively puts a pause in the program" for more than six months, said House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., Bloomberg reports.

Republicans argue that the legislation is needed in order to protect the homeland since one of the Islamic State terrorists who attacked people in Paris may have entered Europe by posing as a Syrian refugee.

"We are a compassionate nation. We always have been and we always will be, but we also must remember that our first priority is to protect the American people," said Ryan.

The legislation passed in a 289 to 137 vote with overwhelming support from Republicans and just 47 Democrats.

The White House, however, released a statement on Wednesday warning that President Obama would veto the bill should it be approved in both branches of Congress. According to the Obama administration, the bill would do little to beef up U.S. security since all refugees already "undergo the most rigorous and thorough security screening of anyone" admitted to the U.S.

"The certification requirement at the core of H.R. 4038 is untenable and would provide no meaningful additional security for the American people, instead serving only to create significant delays and obstacles in the fulfillment of a vital program that satisfies both humanitarian and national security objectives," the White House said in a statement, according to CNN.

While speaking on the House floor, Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts argued that the bill is contributing to fear mongering.

The legislation is "aimed at fueling fear rather than protecting the American people," he said. "This Congress is losing its humanity ... We're behaving in a way that I believe reinforces what the terrorists are trying to communicate to the rest of the world-that somehow we don't care about people from certain parts of the world," he added.