The British government said Wednesday that Donald Trump risked being banned from the United Kingdom in response to a
petition signed by more than half a million British residents over his comments about banning Muslims from entering the United States.
Home Secretary Theresa May said in a statement that she had the authority to "exclude a non-European economic area national from the U.K. if she considers their presence in the U.K. to be non-conducive to the public good.
May added that "coming to the U.K. is a privilege and not a right" and that she would "continue to use the powers available to prevent from entering the U.K. those who seek to harm our society and who do not share our basic values.
"Exclusion powers are very serious and are not used lightly," she said. "The Home Secretary will use these powers when justified and based on all available evidence."
Trump's call earlier this month for banning Muslims to the U.S. in light of terrorism concerns prompted British citizens to begin a petition seeking to ban the Republican front-runner from visiting the United Kingdom.
According to the government petition website, 10,000 signatures are needed to receive a response from the government, while 100,000 are necessary for the issue to be debated in Parliament. The petition had more than 565,000 signatures as of late Wednesday.
Prime Minister David Cameron slammed Trump's remarks. May cited his objection in her statement.
"The prime minister has made clear that he completely disagrees with Donald Trump's remarks," May said. "The Home Secretary has said that Donald Trump's remarks in relation to Muslims are divisive, unhelpful and wrong.
"The government recognizes the strength of feeling against the remarks and will continue to speak out against comments which have the potential to divide our communities, regardless of who makes them.
"We reject any attempts to create division and marginalization amongst those we endeavor to protect."
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