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“We need to empower law enforcement to patrol and secure Muslim neighborhoods before they become radicalized," GOP presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz said Tuesday. | AP Photo Cruz calls for patrols of Muslim neighborhoods

Ted Cruz on Tuesday called for a freeze on any new refugees from areas affected by Al Qaeda and the Islamic State, as well as new powers for law enforcement to patrol “Muslim neighborhoods.”

“We need to immediately halt the flow of refugees from countries with a significant Al Qaeda or ISIS presence,” the Texas senator said in a statement. “We need to empower law enforcement to patrol and secure Muslim neighborhoods before they become radicalized.”

"We know what is happening with these isolated Muslim neighborhoods in Europe," Cruz campaign spokeswoman Alice Stewart elaborated in an email. "If we want to prevent it from happening here, it is going to require an empowered, visible law enforcement presence that will both identify problem spots and partner with non-radical Americans who want to protect their homes," she wrote.

"Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies all have divisions that target threats like drugs, gangs, human trafficking, and organized crime. Radical Islamic terrorism is a significant and growing threat in this country, but this administration refuses to recognize it because they are afraid of being labeled 'politically incorrect.' ... The police should have every tool available to follow leads and take action against those who would do us harm."

Cruz’s comments come after the Islamic State claimed responsibility for terrorist attacks in Brussels. A series of explosions at an airport and metro station have resulted in at least 31 deaths, and more than 170 injured.

Western countries can no longer deny that radical Islamic terrorism exists, Cruz said in the statement, pointing to the areas of Brussels where the attackers are thought to have been radicalized: “Our European allies are now seeing what comes of a toxic mix of migrants who have been infiltrated by terrorists and isolated, radical Muslim neighborhoods."

The U.S. should secure its southern border, Cruz said, to stop terrorists from flowing in.

“The days of the United States voluntarily surrendering to the enemy to show how progressive and enlightened we are at an end,” he said. “Our country is at stake.”

The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned Cruz's push for new law enforcement powers in Muslim neighborhoods, calling the Texas senator a "religious zealot" who was "making biased and hateful statements [about] American Muslims because of their faith.”

“His proposal is dangerous, hateful and unbefitting of one of the leading presidential candidates,” Nihad Awad, the group's executive director, said in an interview. “We believe that all Americans should condemn that anti-Muslim proposal because it is anti-American and it is unconstitutional.”

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chair of the Democratic National Committee, also ripped Cruz's proposals. “Ted Cruz is a disgrace," she said in a statement. "This is not leadership; it is fear-mongering for political gain. And this is the sad state of Republican leadership today, where the hateful and divisive rhetoric of the GOP’s presidential candidates seems to reach new lows each day."

In an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper later Tuesday, Cruz attempted to defend his proposal, though he struggled to provide specifics.

“That does not mean targeting Muslims. It means targeting radical Islamic terrorism,” Cruz said.

Cooper pressed him further: "Beyond just having relationships with mosques, having law enforcement have ongoing relationship with mosques — which happens frankly in many cities with the FBI and local police departments in many cities currently in the United States — are you saying going beyond that?”

“It's very simple. It doing what law enforcement does in any circumstance. If you have a neighborhood where there is a high level of gang activity, the way to prevent it is you increase the law enforcement presence there and target gang members to get them off the street,” Cruz said. “I'm talking about any area where there is a higher incidence of radical Islamic terrorism.”

Later, asked to cite specific areas in the United States that had higher incidence of radical Islamic terrorism, Cruz avoided the question, instead praising former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg's aggressive policing efforts.

Donald Trump appeared after Cruz on CNN and endorsed his plan.

“Yes, I would. I think that’s a good idea" he said of Cruz's call to patrol Muslim neighborhoods. Trump added that American police were completely competent and could make it happen if they were given the necessary authority.