Do the World War II-era Japanese internment camps establish a precedent that allows for a national registry of Muslim immigrants in this country?

Such an idea flies in the face of common decency, common sense and the lessons of history.

So when Carl Higbie, a prominent supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, suggested that very thing in a TV interview, ordinarily the response would have been to dismiss it out of hand and move on.

But these are not ordinary times.

Trump’s various assertions that Muslims living in or entering the United States should be subject to increased scrutiny have put civil rights groups and prominent politicians on high alert for any signs he actually meant what he said.

Higbie, a former spokesman for a major super PAC backing Trump, told Fox News’ Megyn Kelly that such a registry would be legal: “I know the ACLU is going to challenge it, but I think it will pass. We have done it with Iran back a while ago. We did it during World War II with Japanese.”

The reaction was understandably swift and visceral. Hawaii’s two U.S. senators, representing a state that had internment camps, joined a chorus of condemnation of Higbie’s comments.

“Any suggestion that the classification of thousands of Japanese, Germans and Italians during World War II as ‘enemy aliens’ should be used as a precedent is immoral and must be rejected by all Americans,” U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said in a statement.

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono said through her Twitter account: “Are hate speech, racism and xenophobia the new normal in our country? No they are not. We cannot let fear dictate our path forward. An inclusive and vibrant America is worth fighting for.”

There’s no arguing with that. Hawaii’s unique experience with camps at Honouliuli, Sand Island and elsewhere should be a cautionary tale against racial and religious profiling.

For the federal government to target specific groups, citizens or not, not only does them grievous harm. It expands the reach of coercive government into communities, homes and businesses, corroding the foundation of individual liberties upon which we all depend.

Moreover, an eariler program to target Muslims in the name of national security was scrapped. The National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS), was enacted in 2002 and targeted immi- grants from mostly Arab and Muslim countries before it was suspended in 2011. It accomplished little beyond triggering criticism from civil rights groups.

In recent days, Trump has sought to tamp down the fears raised by Higbie’s remarks.

“President-elect Trump has never advocated for any registry or system that tracks individuals based on their religion, and to imply otherwise is completely false,” said spokesman Jason Miller.

That’s cold comfort for Trump’s opponents, who remain deeply suspicious of the president-elect’s intentions. In 2015, Trump responded positively to the idea of creating a Muslim database when it was raised by a TV reporter. And Kris Kobach, transition team member and Kansas secretary of state, said the new administration is considering reviving its own version of NSEERS.

It hasn’t helped that Trump appointed Stephen Bannon as his senior counselor. Hirono and 169 House Democrats, including Hawaii U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, demanded that Trump rescind the appointment of the head of Breitbart News, a website flagged for racist, misogynistic and anti-Semitic content.

The country remains deeply divided and anxious after the Nov. 8 election, and Trump has an important task ahead, one he spoke of at his victory rally:

“It’s time for America to bind the wounds of division,” he said. “I say it is time for us to come together as a united country.”

Indeed. For Trump, that should be Job 1.