This is what happens if the Trump administration follows up on its Muslim registry proposal.
During his campaign, President Donald Trump assumed an aggressive stance toward Islamic terrorism and Muslims in general as a cornerstone of his security policy. Starting with his plan to “bomb the shit” out of ISIS, Trump’s proposed ban on all immigration from Muslim countries became a knee-jerk reaction to the San Bernardino terrorist attack. After an uproar caused by the statement, this policy suggestion was amended to a temporary ban on entry from countries implicated in terrorism.
What really shocked the democratic mind of America was the discussion by Trump’s policy advisors about creating a registry and identification system for American Muslims. This echoed a database created under George W. Bush’s presidency that required men over the age of 16 to regularly report to immigration officials. Of the 25 countries listed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on this National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS), 24 were Muslim; the other one was North Korea. The registry was suspended in 2011, after it failed to bring a single terrorist conviction, and fully dismantled in December 2016.
Now, fears of a registry being brought back in a more extreme form have brought comparisons with both the Nazi Holocaust and the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, with Donald Trump refusing to clarify his position on the issue. Jonathan Greenblatt, head of the Anti-Defamation League, called on all American Jews to register as Muslims, followed by a solidarity #IWillRegister pledge from non-Muslims across the country.
Here is a sobering glimpse at what it might actually look like.
*[Follow Registration Day 2017 on Facebook.]
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Fair Observer’s editorial policy.
Photo Credit: inhauscreative
Support Fair Observer
We rely on your support for our independence, diversity and quality.
For more than 10 years, Fair Observer has been free, fair and independent. No billionaire owns us, no advertisers control us. We are a reader-supported nonprofit. Unlike many other publications, we keep our content free for readers regardless of where they live or whether they can afford to pay. We have no paywalls and no ads.
In the post-truth era of fake news, echo chambers and filter bubbles, we publish a plurality of perspectives from around the world. Anyone can publish with us, but everyone goes through a rigorous editorial process. So, you get fact-checked, well-reasoned content instead of noise.
We publish 2,500+ voices from 90+ countries. We also conduct education and training programs
on subjects ranging from digital media and journalism to writing and critical thinking. This
doesn’t come cheap. Servers, editors, trainers and web developers cost
money.
Please consider supporting us on a regular basis as a recurring donor or a
sustaining member.
Will you support FO’s journalism?
We rely on your support for our independence, diversity and quality.