US Cabinet contender Kris Kobach accidentally reveals plans for Muslim registry

Contender for Donald Trump's cabinet, Kris Kobach, accidentally revealed plans for a national Muslim registry and a Syrian refugee ban when photographed with documents outlining the proposals as he met the President-elect on Sunday (20 November).

The Kansas secretary of state met Trump in Bedminster, New Jersey as Trump continues to choose members of his upcoming administration.

According to The Guardian, Kobach has been rumoured to be up for several positions, but the documents he was seen carrying indicate he may be under consideration for Homeland Security (DHS).

The papers indicate a "strategic plan" for DHS in the first year of Trump's presidency.

Among Kobach's proposals is the reintroduction of a programme used by the Bush Administration following the 9/11 attacks that tracked individuals from "high-risk areas".

The National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) was a programme based on the country of origin and was considered to be a Muslim registry.

Kobach was the chief architect of the programme while he served in the Justice Department under Bush. Esquire noted that the programme was shelved in 2011 "because it was ineffective, costly, and often seen as harassment".

Trump has often floated around the idea of a Muslim registry and has repeatedly refused to rule out one.

Reince Priebus, who was appointed Trump's chief of staff, said on Sunday (20 November): "I'm not gonna rule out anything, but we're not gonna have a registry based on a religion."

Trump has advocated "extreme vetting" of incoming immigrants from certain parts of the world. Kobach included extreme vetting in his proposal.

"Add extreme vetting questions for high-risk aliens: question them regarding support for Sharia law, jihad, equality of men and women, the United States Constitution," his plan read. Kobach also hopes to "reduce the intake of Syrian refugees to zero".

According to the Topeka Capital-Journal, the Council on Islamic-American Relations expressed alarm about Kobach's plan, calling his proposal "inquisition-style questions." Spokesman Ibrahim Hooper, however, said he was not surprised.

"I think this unfortunately in line with the actions we've seen from President-elect Trump's transition team," Hooper said.

The document, which was partially obscured by Kobach's hand and arm, also made references to the border wall between the US and Mexico, the post-9/11 Patriot Act and the National Voter Registration Act. Micah Kubic, director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, was equally concerned about Kobach's proposals.

Kubic told the Topeka Capital-Journal that Kobach has a record of making voting and the life of immigrants more difficult. "All of that we find reprehensible, unconstitutional, illegal and un-American," he said.