A prominent Muslim-American group is blasting Donald Trump‘s proposal to give immigrants an ideological test, saying it “violates American values” and that the GOP nominee would himself fail.
“Donald Trump proposed an ideological ‘test’ to ensure that potential immigrants support American values. American values include the right to hold unpopular or non-majority opinions,” said Robert McCaw, the director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), in Monday afternoon statement.
“Trump himself would likely not gain entry into the United States if tested for basic American values of tolerance and pluralism, given that his proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States and his views on Latinos are in complete contradiction to America’s traditions of ethnic diversity and religious freedom.”
Trump pledged to establish an “ideological screening test” for new immigrants to root out “members or sympathizers of terrorist groups,” those “hostile” toward America, and those who “support bigotry and hatred” in a speech on Monday.
The GOP presidential nominee also floated the creation of a commission on radical Islam, which he said would advise the public and law enforcement about how to stem the tide of radicalization.
CAIR took issue with that proposal as well, framing it as “government interference in religious beliefs” and questioning how a Trump administration would maintain a definition for the “ill-defined hot button term ‘radical Islamic terrorism.’ ”
The Muslim-American advocacy group has taken issue with Trump’s policies in the past, specifically decrying his proposal to temporarily ban Muslim immigration. Trump later said he would ban immigrants form countries with a “history” of terror. The group has also accused Trump of relying on anti-Muslim advisers.