The co-chair of the “Great America PAC for Donald Trump” found himself in hot water with Fox News’ Megyn Kelly Wednesday night when a conversation on Muslim immigration turned to America’s history with internment camps.
Former Navy SEAL Carl Higbie appeared on “The Kelly File” to discuss ways President-elect Trump might deal with Muslim immigrants from “higher risk” nations. At issue was an interview that Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach recently gave with Reuters, which mentioned “extreme vetting.” Mr. Higbie said the precedent of “keeping tabs” on immigrants was set with Iranians and during World War II with Japanese-Americans.
“They say it will hold constitutional muster,” Mr. Higbie said, Mediaite reported Wednesday night. “I know the ACLU is going to challenge it, but I think it will pass. We did it with Iran back awhile ago, we did it during World War II with Japanese, which — call it what you will — may be wrong.”
“Come on, you’re not proposing we go back to the days of internment camps, I hope,” the Fox host replied.
“No, I’m not proposing that at all, Megyn,” the ex-SEAL said.
“That’s the kind of stuff that gets people scared, Carl. […] You can’t be citing Japanese internment camps as precedent for anything the president-elect is going to do!” Ms. Kelly replied.
“Look, the president needs to protect America first,” Mr. Higbie said. “If that means having people who are not protected under our Constitution have some sort of registration we can understand — until we can identify the true threat and where it’s coming from — I support it.”
Proposals being considered by Mr. Trump’s advisers appear to be modeled on the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System, which was devised by Mr. Kobach after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Aspects of NSEERS was deemed redundant by the Department of Homeland Security in 2011 and abandoned, Reuters reported Tuesday.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.