Pence: Trump’s immigrant ban could include other religions
VP candidate says policy should be anyone from ‘compromised’ areas
In addition to Muslims, Jews along with Christians could be prohibited from immigrating to the US under a proposed ban by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, according to his running mate Gov. Mike Pence on Monday.
Without specifically mentioning the two religions, the conservative Indiana governor said the proposed temporary ban on immigrants from areas “compromised by terrorism” would apply to individuals of all religions.
Pence made the remarks in response to a question on the Wisconsin-based ‘Midday with Charlie Sykes’ radio show about the religious affiliation of potential immigrants who would be barred from entering the US under the Trump campaign’s suggested plan.
“So there’s no longer a temporary proposed ban on Muslims, it would be anyone from those countries including Christians... Jews?” the program’s host asked Pence.
The Republican vice presidential hopeful responded by saying a policy that prohibited all individuals from “compromised” territories was, for now, “appropriate.”
“I think what you heard in the convention speech from Donald Trump, what we talked about out on the stump is that we would temporarily suspend from countries, or territories if you will — the caliphate obviously of ISIS expands beyond one country — but to say that individuals that come from regions or countries that have been compromised by terrorism, that we would expand that immigration. I think that’s appropriate until we develop a new vetting system,” he said on the radio show.
Pence, who initially condemned Trump’s controversial stance on banning Muslims, then went on to note his contested decision as Indiana governor to suspended a program allowing Syrian refugees to settle in the Midwestern state.