Donald Trump Would Enact Extreme Vetting of Immigrants
In a speech in Ohio, Donald Trump has said that he would enact “extreme vetting” of immigrants.
The Republican presidential nominee outlined his plans to combat Islamic extremism, including a new screening test for arrivals to the United States.
Applicants will be tested to determine if they share Western liberal values like LGBT and religious tolerance.
Donald Trump’s Democratic rival Hillary Clinton poured scorn on his plan, labeling it a “cynical ploy”.
“This so-called <<policy>> cannot be taken seriously,” said her spokesman.
“How can Trump put this forward with a straight face when he opposes marriage equality and selected as his running mate the man [Mike Pence] who signed an anti-LGBT law in Indiana?”
Under Donald Trump’s plan, citizens from countries with a history of terror will be banned but it is not clear which nations.
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In the speech, the New York billionaire did not lay out his own military strategy for defeating ISIS.
He did repeat his claim he was opposed to the Iraq War before it began, which fact-checkers say is untrue.
Donald Trump also said that the oil in Iraq should have been seized by the US government to prevent it from becoming the property of ISIS.
In his speech, he also promised to:
- Ban immigration from countries where terrorism is widespread and vetting is poor
- Make alliances with all countries fighting against terrorism
- Introduce an ideology test for new immigrants arriving to the US
- Keep Guantanamo Bay prison open
- Establish a presidential commission to investigate Islamic terror
- Work with NATO, despite previously calling it “obsolete”
Donald Trump initially proposed a blanket ban on all Muslims but has changed it to one that is based on an unspecified list of countries that export terror.
The latest proposal includes creating an ideological test for immigrants entering the US, with questions addressing how each applicant views American values such as religious freedom, gender equality and gay rights.
“Those who do not believe in our Constitution, or who support bigotry and hatred, will not be admitted for immigration into the country,” Donald Trump said.
The Republican nominee said that the test will not only expose terrorist sympathizers, but also will “screen out any who have hostile attitudes towards our country or its principles”.
Donald Trump heavily criticized Hillary Clinton, saying that she lacks the “mental and physical stamina” to defeat ISIS.
He attacked her plan to increase the rate of Syrian refugees arrivals, which he claimed would cost $400 billion.
Donald Trump is still facing a backlash for repeatedly describing President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as “founders” of Islamic State.
Vice President Joe Biden speaking at a campaign event with Hillary Clinton said that Donald Trump’s claim that Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton had “founded” ISIS proved his views to be “dangerous” and “un-American”, and that it had made US soldiers in Iraq less safe already.
Recent polls show Donald Trump significantly trailing Hillary Clinton in key battleground states.