Story highlights Democrats on Wednesday blocked a controversial bill that would curb the flow of Syrian and Iraqi refugees

The 55 to 43 vote largely split down party lines and fell short of the 60 votes needed for the bill to advance

Washington (CNN) Senate Democrats blocked consideration of a Republican bill on Wednesday that would have curbed the flow of Syrian and Iraqi refugees into the United States in order to prevent terrorists from slipping in.

In exchange for taking up the bill, Democrats wanted votes on amendments, including one that would have forced GOP senators to go on-the-record on Donald Trump's controversial plan to temporarily ban all Muslims from entering the U.S.

The 55 to 43 vote was largely split down party lines and fell short of the 60 votes needed for the bill to advance. The result means the refugee bill, which passed the House with broad bipartisan support in November, likely is dead for the year.

President Barack Obama had warned he would veto the bill if it made it to his desk.

"By blocking this measure, Senate Democrats are making it that much harder for us to keep Americans safe," House Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement after the vote. "Their vote is irresponsible in a time of grave threats. Even the administration's top law enforcement officials say there are gaps in our refugee program that terrorists can exploit."

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