Over the course of American history, one immigrant group after another has arrived and integrated into society, and Muslims are among the latest. Like many of those who came before, they’ve learned that assimilation is no protection against animus.

In the wake of 9/11, Muslims found themselves the object of suspicion, anger and law enforcement scrutiny. But they managed to endure that ordeal and not only survive but flourish, in places as different as New York City, Detroit and Dallas-Ft. Worth.

Today, Muslims are indistinguishable from the general population when it comes to graduating from college, working full time and enlisting in the military. Last year, a Muslim was elected mayor of New York — which, by the way, has more Jewish residents than any city outside of Israel. Some 250 Muslims hold elected office across 26 states.

You might expect that as the memory of the al-Qaida attacks and the global war on terror has subsided, Islamophobia would also fade. No such luck.

Muslims are more likely than any other group to report encountering religious discrimination. Survey data indicates that anti-Muslim sentiment has risen substantially since 2018. And when prejudice proliferates, some politicians see opportunity.

The Republican Party has not always been a haven for religious bigots. George W. Bush........

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