Donald Trump has become known for his vitriolic, and at times xenophobic, remarks regarding a wide spectrum of groups. From calling Mexican immigrants rapists to saying Black Lives Matters protestors deserved to be roughed up, the candidate has shown that he is not afraid to offend. Trump hit new heights of controversy when he proclaimed, after the November 13th terrorist attacks in Paris, that Muslims in the United States should be monitored through an international database. Predictably, the comment received a lot of criticism, though Trump neglected to back down. Now, it the billionaire real estate mogul has said that The United States needs to bar all Muslim immigrants from entering the country for the time being. However long that period is, has not been disclosed.
According to The New York Times, Mr. Trump began his explanation by expounding on what he believes to be the root cause of the violence that seems to have plagued all corners of the globe. He said, "Without looking at the various polling data, it is obvious to anybody the hatred is beyond comprehension. Where this hatred comes from and why we will have to determine."
As a prescription to the origins of this hatred, Trump believes that the United States should not allow the entry of any Muslim citizens for a certain allotted time period.
"Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life," he said.
The rhetoric, confirmed in authenticity by the Trump campaign, represents a reiteration of a painful chapter in American history where quotas were placed on immigrants based on their ethnicity and religion. Regarding the striking change of tone in the race, Nancy Morawetz, a professor of clinical law at New York University, said, "I cannot recall any historical precedent for denying immigration based on religion."
