Nikki Haley on Muslim Americans

Vocal opponent of bans (moderate) Position evolved

TL;DR

Nikki Haley supports legal immigration but opposes banning entry to the U.S. based on religion.

Key Points

She stated that she does not believe the U.S. should ever ban entry based on religion, which is a core principle for her.
As governor, she refused to accept Syrian refugees when told by the FBI director that vetting could not be done to the same standard as previous refugee intake programs.
Haley has pointed to her own family's history as proud children of Indian immigrants as evidence that legal immigration is fundamental to the U.S. fabric.

Summary

Nikki Haley has stated clearly that the United States should never ban entry based on religion, differentiating her stance from policies that temporarily paused entry from certain Muslim-majority nations. As the daughter of immigrants, she supports the fabric of America being built on legal immigration and has pointed to the success of the refugee program in vetting individuals who kept American soldiers safe. She explained that administrative pauses on entry from specific countries were presented to her as necessary measures because security agencies lacked sufficient information to vet applicants properly, not as a ban based on faith.

When discussing the issue in the context of the administration she served, Haley maintained that the focus of those actions was national security and keeping terrorists out, rather than alienating the established Muslim American population. She suggested that the pause was temporary, contingent upon establishing better vetting policies, and implied the administration was open to lifting restrictions once adequate information could be obtained for thorough background checks.

Key Quotes

I do not think there should be any registry based on religion.

Senate Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations January 18, 2017

We should never ban based on religion, I mean, period. We should never.

CFR Conversation March 29, 2017

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Nikki Haley's position on Muslim Americans?

Nikki Haley affirms that the U.S. should never institute a ban on entry based on religion. She supports the framework of legal immigration, citing her own family's history as immigrants. Her focus is on ensuring that national security measures, such as increased vetting, do not compromise this principle.

Did Nikki Haley support the travel ban on Muslim-majority countries?

Haley defended the administration's action as a temporary pause taken for security reasons due to insufficient vetting information, not a religious ban. She stated that the pause would lift once better vetting policies were established to keep terrorists out.

Has Nikki Haley changed her stance on policies affecting Muslims?

Haley has shown a shift by firmly stating that a religious ban is unacceptable, while concurrently supporting necessary pauses in refugee intake when vetting information was deemed insufficient by security officials. This suggests an evolution in approach, balancing her anti-discrimination stance with national security concerns.