American Muslims decry Cruz community surveillance comments

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Some American Muslims feel they are once again on the defensive after presidential candidate Ted Cruz's suggestion that Muslim-dominated neighborhoods should be subject to increased surveillance in the wake of the deadly attacks in Brussels.

"We're targeted even if it's not our fault," said Omar Ghanim, 23, eating Lebanese pizza Tuesday at a suburban strip mall in Orange County's Little Arabia neighborhood, just miles from Disneyland in California.

Ghanim said Islamic State doesn't represent his faith.

"They don't follow the Islamic rules or anything Islam," he said. "We're a peaceful people. We're not violent."

Cruz said Tuesday that law enforcement should be empowered to "patrol and secure Muslim neighborhoods before they become radicalized."

Echoing earlier statements from rival Donald Trump, Cruz also said the U.S. should stop the flow of refugees from countries where the Islamic State militant group has a significant presence. IS claimed responsibility for the attacks at the Brussels airport and a subway station that killed dozens Tuesday and wounded many more.

Muslims across the country and groups including the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Anti-Defamation League condemned Cruz's statements.