WASHINGTON — US House Democrats voted on Wednesday to approve a measure that would repeal President Donald Trump administration’s controversial ban of travelers from several Muslim majority countries from entering the US.

The 233-183 vote largely along party lines. The measure is not expected to be taken up in the Republican-controlled Senate, but its passage is a chance for Democrats to make a statement of opposition to a policy that restricts immigration from a number of Muslim-majority and African countries.

“It is cruel and unjust to have this ban,” Democratic Rep. Judy Chu of California, the House lead sponsor of the bill, told CNN in an interview.

“This is the first bill passed out of the House that would uphold the civil rights of Muslim Americans. I am proud that we are taking steps today. It is historic and it is only right.”

House Democrats had originally planned to vote to repeal the ban in March, but the bill was pulled from the schedule as the coronavirus pandemic intensified and the legislative agenda shifted to focus on efforts to respond to the unfolding crisis.

The latest version of the Trump’s executive order — which was issued in September — bans nationals of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen from entering the US.

The original order in January 2017 barred people from seven majority-Muslim countries — Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen — from entering the US for 90 days. It also halted refugee resettlement for 120 days and banned Syrian refugees indefinitely. — KUNA