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Update: Rep. Fred Upton, a longer-serving Republican from St. Joseph, also speaks out against the presidential policy. He did so two days after Rep. Justin Amash.
This 36-year-old representative boldly goes where no other current Michigan Republican in Congress dares go.
Justin Amash of Grand Rapids, serving his fourth term in the seat that was Jerry Ford's from 1949-73, argues against President Trump's "extreme vetting" order for every refugee and all travelers from seven mostly Muslin nations.
Rep. Justin Amash: "A blanket ban represents an extreme approach not consistent with our nation's values." (Facebook photo)
"It's not lawful to ban immigrants on basis of nationality," Amash says on social media. "If the president wants to change immigration law, he must work with Congress. . . . A blanket ban represents an extreme approach not consistent with our nation's values."
He speaks out in nine tweets and a 200-word Facebook post, which appears below. It exceeds 10,000 "like" clicks and is shared over 4,700 times as of Monday morning.
None of Michigan eight other Republican congressmen has criticized Friday evening's executive order openly. Neither has Gov. Rick Snyder.
The governor bypassed a chance to take a stand in a response to Michigan Radio. "When asked," the station posts Monday morning, "Snyder’s office released this statement over the weekend:"
Governor Snyder believes that legal immigration has helped build a strong and diverse talent base and culture in Michigan. We will work with the Trump administration on the best way forward to keep Michigan a welcoming place while ensuring the safety of all residents.
Rick Pluta and Zoe Clark of the public radio network comment:
So, what does that mean? Does the governor support Trump’s executive order?
A national news site, Axios, politics writer Jonathan Swan on Monday posts this explanation about why nearly all congressional Republicans are mum:
Republicans will try to ride this out. They're afraid of backlash from Trump voters.
Senators not facing reelection in 2018 may mouth off. But look for the House to stay quiet; they want to focus on taxes and Obamacare, not get in a no-win fight over this issue.
As for Amash, a brash West Michigan representative first elected in 2010, this is his third public rebuke of his party's new president this month.
"Dude, just stop," Amash tweeted Jan. 14 in response to Trump tweets criticizing Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., a civil rights icon. More recently, he derided the idea of slapping Mexico with a 20-percent tariff, which the White House says may be a way to finance a border wall.
Here the text of his Saturday night statement on new immigration restrictions:
'The executive order appears to be
ore about politics than safety'
Like President Obama's executive actions on immigration, President Trump's executive order overreaches and undermines our constitutional system. It's not lawful to ban immigrants on the basis of nationality. If the president wants to change immigration law, he must work with Congress.
The president's denial of entry to lawful permanent residents of the United States (green card holders) is particularly troubling. Green card holders live in the United States as our neighbors and serve in our Armed Forces. They deserve better.
I agree with the president that we must do much more to properly vet refugees, but a blanket ban represents an extreme approach not consistent with our nation's values. While the executive order allows the admittance of immigrants, non-immigrants, and refugees "on a case-by-case basis," arbitrariness would violate the Rule of Law.
Ultimately, the executive order appears to be more about politics than safety. If the concern is radicalism and terrorism, then what about Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and others?
Finally, we can't effectively fight homegrown Islamic radicalism by perpetuating the “us vs. them” mindset that terrorists use to recruit. We must ensure that the United States remains dedicated to the Constitution, the Rule of Law, and liberty. It can't be stated strongly enough that capitalism creates prosperity and improves assimilation into society.
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