Amash talks DACA, concealed carry and Trump tweets

Rep. Justin Amash told the crowd at Tuesday night town hall in Battle Creek that people who came illegally to this country as children should be treated: with compassion.

"We should care for those who came here at a young age and have no connection to the home country they’re from," Amash said. "But we also have to make sure we address the bigger picture and that we’re not creating a perpetual problem."

Amash faced a crowd of about 75 people came to Kool Family Community Center with questions ranging from immigration policy to President Donald Trump's retweeted internet videos.

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, which protects people brought illegally to the U.S. as children from deportation and allows them to get work permits. was one of a few key topics he wanted to address.

While Trump plans to rescind DACA protections, Amash co-sponsored the Bridge Act, which keeps it in place for three years, giving Congress time to work out a reform.

When the House of Representatives passed an appropriations bill earlier this month, Amash voted against it even though it contained an amendment he wrote.

"I was able to add an amendment to prevent the Attorney General Sessions directive from going through on civil asset forfeiture," Amash said of the practice of governments seizing property from those suspected of crimes, whether or not they've been charged.

Amash also was the lone Republican "no" vote when the House passed the Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act Sept. 14.

Amash said his problem was that, while the act allows for deportation of immigrants who are found to be gang members, the language could also apply to owners of marijuana businesses legalized in some states but not by the federal government, for example.

During the audience question period, one man wanted to know why Amash didn't cosponsor a bill that would allow people that have concealed carry gun permits to take their guns into states that don't allow them.

"It specifically cites the commerce clause, and the commerce clause is not what concealed carry reciprocity should be based on," Amash said. "As soon as they treat it as commerce they will start regulating it. They will start regulating your gun in a way that is not permissible, in my opinion, under the Second Amendment."

A group of activists from Voters Not Politicians, an anti-gerrymandering organization, wanted to know Amash's thoughts on the way Michigan's congressional districts have been carved up.

"I’m very strongly against the type of gerrymandering we have where the districts are drawn to help one party or the other," Amash said. "I think that it’s totally outrageous."

Amash said that, while he likes coming to Battle Creek and hopes his constituents here are happy with their representation, it would make more sense for the Cereal City to be grouped with Kalamazoo, rather than the current district it shares with Grand Rapids.

"I do think they should rethink how they’re drawing these districts and put counties together that are closely affiliated, put communities together that are closely affiliated and don’t draw funny lines just to get Republicans and Democrats in one area or the other," Amash said.

One man asked Amash about Trump's recent retweet of an altered video, showing the president swinging a golf club and a golf ball hitting Hillary Clinton in the back, knocking her down.

Trump has come under fire for that retweet, both because it shows violence against a political rival and woman, and because it came from a person using anti-Semitic language.

Amash said it's not possible to comment on everything Trump tweets. Pressed on whether it was beneath the dignity of the office of the President to retweet it, Amash had simple answer.

"I wouldn't do it," the congressman said.

Contact Andy Fitzpatrick at 269-966-0697 or afitzpatrick@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @am_fitzpatrick.