Despite efforts by Republican leaders to stop the flow of Muslim migrants in the U.S., owing to fears of terrorist infiltration, the U.S. House of Representatives has just approved the funding for the issuance of nearly 300,000 visas to migrants from Muslim countries in one year.
This came about following the passage of the $1.1-trillion omnibus spending bill last week.
By a vote of 316-113, the bill was passed through the efforts of new House Speaker Paul Ryan with the help of Democrats led by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
A total of 150 Republicans voted for the bill that funds the Obama administration's refugee programme in the U.S., Mideast immigration programmes, sanctuary cities, DREAMers and resettlement of undocumented immigrants in the country, according to a Breitbart report.
Based on data by the Department of Homeland Security, in 2013, about 118,000 people from Muslim-majority countries got green cards as well as about 40,000 refugees and asylum seekers from Muslim countries.
About 123,000 foreign students and foreign workers from Muslim countries were admitted to the U.S. in 2013, according to the State Department.
The bill will also fund the Obama administration's plan to admit 10,000 refugees from Syria.
Sen. Jeff Sessions and Sen. Ted Cruz told administration officials in a letter that the permanent resettlement of 170,000 Muslim migrants will add to the huge inflow of temporary Muslim migrants.
The Breitbart report said the influx of Muslim migrants presents challenges including putting American girls at risk of suffering from Female Genital Mutilation, according to a report by Equality Now.
In addition, the measure will fund H-2B guest-worker visas that immigration attorney Ian Smith claims will "hurt America's most vulnerable workers."
The report said the expansion of the H-2B visa programme proved that "a Ryan Speakership would mean the desires of 9 in 10 Republican voters to reduce future immigration growth would be trumped by donor class' desire to increase immigration."
It said since 1965, the U.S. has admitted 59 million immigrants that has changed the landscape of America.
