Embattled conservative GOP Rep. Darrell Issa campaigned for Donald Trump but now has some harsh words for the president: Stop tweeting and stop making people afraid, because “that’s not what America’s about.”
In what appears to be a break with Trump immigration orthodoxy, Issa told a town hall crowd, “I’m tired of people being afraid when that’s not what America’s about. We need to fix the system. That includes recognizing that a lot of people that are here are for jobs that we must fill either with immigrants or with guest workers.”
Local political reality may be behind his new criticism of the controversial president.
He managed a narrow narrow victory in his reelection bid last year for a ninth term representing parts of San Diego and Orange counties. He’s expected to face tough opposition for his reelection bid in 2018 with a major push for the seat from local and national Democrats trying to regain a House majority.
Issa is the wealthiest member of Congress, and he was both supported and rejected by a town hall crowd of about 1,000 Saturday at San Juan Hills High School in San Juan Capistrano in Republican leaning Orange County.
The primary job of local law enforcement should not be to determine if someone is in the country legally or illegally, Issa said to cheers from the crowd. He said crime victims and witnesses should not be asked where they come from.
“When someone is a perpetrator, when they’ve been arrested, when they have gone through the process, then, before they are released we should give ICE and other agencies the opportunity to see whether or not they need to be released in the U.S. or released in their country of origin,” Issa said.
The Republican was asked why his party does not stand up to Trump and hold him accountable.
“Now that he’s the president, I have to hold him accountable and this administration accountable,” Issa said. “Would I like to have him put away his phone … would I like to take back the statements he’s made that are very difficult when we’re working with our allies and tough relationships including dealing with the immigration issue with our Mexican partners? … Yes.”
Issa said he is confidant that the current investigation will get to the bottom of allegations of possible collusion between the Russian government and the Trump presidential campaign, and added that former FBI director Robert Mueller has everything he needs to complete the investigation.
“Russia has been an evil empire since before (President) Reagan coined that term and (President Vladimir) Putin has now a decade plus of being an evil leader,” Issa said. “So, I don’t want to hear from anybody that this is a Republican problem or a Democratic problem. It’s not.”
Other topics discussed during the two-hour event included the U.S. backing out of the Paris climate agreement, proposed budget cuts to the U.S. Department of Education, health care reform, energy, and the Electoral College.
— Staff and wire reports