Donald Trump speaks at an Alabama campaign rally in August. (Brynn Anderson / AP)

In his most despicable declaration yet, Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump is urging the “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States,” according to a statement his campaign released to the media Monday.

In the incendiary statement, which comes in the wake of terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, Calif., Trump says, “Without looking at the various polling data, it is obvious to anybody the hatred is beyond comprehension. Where this hatred comes from and why we will have to determine. Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life.”

According to Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s campaign manager, the ban proposed by the candidate would apply to all Muslims, including tourists.

From The New York Times:

A spokeswoman for Mr. Trump confirmed the authenticity of the statement. Asked what prompted it, Mr. Trump said, “death,” according to the spokeswoman.

Mr. Trump made his remarks a day after President Obama delivered a national address from the Oval Office urging Americans not to turn against Muslims in the wake of the terrorist attacks. Mr. Trump is expected to say more at a rally at the USS Yorktown in South Carolina on Monday evening to mark the anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Experts on immigration law and policy expressed shock at the proposal Monday afternoon.

“This is just so antithetical to the history of the United States,” said Nancy Morawetz, a professor of clinical law at New York University School of Law, who specializes in immigration. “It’s unbelievable to have a religious test for admission into the country.”

She added: “I cannot recall any historical precedent for denying immigration based on religion.”

Ms. Morawetz said that the United States has long regretted policies that banned the immigration of Chinese at the end of 19th century.

“It’s a very sad chapter in American immigration history that we would think is behind us today.”

Shortly after issuing his statement, Trump tweeted that the United States must be “vigilant” about the “extraordinary influx of hatred and danger” entering the country.

–Posted by Roisin Davis

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