Furthermore, I think it is clear that there is a perspective held by the President, and many who influence him most closely, that sees (non-western) immigration as an existential threat to the balance of cultural, financial and political power in America. The recent ban on refugees and travelers from seven Muslim countries, executive actions on the border wall and deportations, etc., are likely practical outworkings of that anti-(non-western) immigrant bent.
For both a faith and political reasons, I disagree with this perspective.
That being said, I think it is right to affirm the following points related to the entry of Muslims of certain ideological perspectives into the USA, and agree with Trump administration's attempts to strengthen these areas:
- 1) There are Muslims who believe in violent Jihad against the west: Even if over 99% of Muslims disagree, that still means there are potentially millions of Muslims who might be violent if given the chance. The USA needs to continually improve its efforts in vetting, identifying and excluding these potential threats from entering.
2) There are a larger percent (still a minority) of Muslims who hold conservative/fundamental views on the the implementation of the more violent aspects of Sharia law (e.g. stoning of adulterers, whippings and amputations for thievery and other crimes, honor killings, death penalty for leaving Islam): Perhaps a few hundred million of the 1.6 billion Muslims in the world hold these views. According to Pew Research, they tend to be concentrated more strongly in a few countries: Pakistan, Afghanistan, Egypt, Jordan, Palestinian Terr., and Malaysia to be specific. These beliefs are antithetical to the principals western democracy and modern civility. In it's vetting process, the USA should take ongoing steps to limit the immigration of those individuals holding ideologies that are antithetical to western freedom & civility.
The USA is a land of immigrants - and that shouldn't change now as a part of any "America First" mentality. However, I do think putting significant resources toward continually sophisticated and targeted ideological vetting of entrants into the US & Canada is crucial. Better vetting will help the US weed out threats while at the same time freely welcoming those who are compatible with the ideals of freedom and democracy.