Donald Trump Proposes ‘Extreme Vetting’ for Immigrants, With Ideological Screening Test

— -- To fight “radical Islamic terrorism” and to “make America safe again,” Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump proposed today administering a new, ideological test for immigrants who want to enter the United States.

“We should only admit into this country those who share our values and respect our people,” Trump said at a campaign rally in Youngstown, Ohio. “The time is overdue to develop a new screening test for the threats we face today.

“I call it extreme vetting,” Trump said.

Trump’s policy proposal is an expansion on his call in December for a “total and complete shutdown” of Muslims’ entering the United States.

“In addition to screening out all members of the sympathizers of terrorist groups, we must also screen out any who have hostile attitudes toward our country or its principles or who believe that Sharia law should supplant American law,” he said today.

“To put these new procedures in place, we will have to temporarily suspend immigration from some of the most dangerous and volatile regions of the world,” Trump said, adding that if he becomes president, the State Department and Department of Homeland Security will curate the list of regions where the policy would apply.

Hillary for America Senior Policy Adviser Jake Sullivan released a statement today, saying, Trump's "so-called ‘policy’ cannot be taken seriously. How can Trump put this forward with a straight face when he opposes marriage equality and selected as his running mate the man who signed an anti-LGBT law in Indiana? It's a cynical ploy to escape scrutiny of his outrageous proposal to ban an entire religion from our country and no one should fall for it."

Trump last week labeled his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, and President Barack Obama “the founders of ISIS,” which Trump initially insisted he meant literally, then called “sarcasm.”

Today he argued, “The rise of ISIS is the direct result of policy decisions made by President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton.”

Trump repeatedly hit his opponent, saying she “lacks the mental and physical stamina to take on ISIS.”

He said the United States is done playing host to anyone who does not support this country.

“The support networks for radical Islam in this country will be stripped out and removed one by one, viciously, if necessary. Viciously, if necessary,” Trump said. “Immigration offices will also have their powers restored. They’ve been taken away. Those who are guests in our country that are preaching hate will be asked to return home immediately, and if they don’t do it, we will return them home.”