(Watch the Buck McKeon on immigration reform video)
Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, said Wednesday that he supports immigration reform and legalizing those who are in the country without legal permission, but added that tighter border security is necessary to prevent Arab terrorists from entering the country disguised as Hispanic people.
"There are people ... that can't tell the difference between a Hispanic person and an Arab person," McKeon said at a public Simi Valley event Wednesday. "If you get an Arab that's trained, that's coming into this country to be ... a terrorist, they can mingle in and they can get in here and then they can do damage."
McKeon, who leads the House Armed Services Committee, is back in his 25th Congressional District for the House's August recess and met with veterans and residents at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Military Museum in Simi Valley on Wednesday.
In a question-and-answer session during the event, local members of Organizing for Action — a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting President Barack Obama's policies — asked McKeon about his immigration reform policies.
McKeon spokeswoman Alissa McCurley said in an email Friday that "the last thing Congressman McKeon meant to do was cause any offense," but was advocating for immigration-reform legislation that includes stronger border security and "a lawful, workable and fair status mechanism for those who are currently living in this country undocumented."
McCurley said: "An overwhelming majority of people who enter this country come to provide themselves and their families opportunities through hard work and a chance at the American dream, but unfortunately, there are many who will exploit any perceived weakness and will enter this country with criminal intentions."
Peter Rothenberg, San Fernando Valley Chapter lead for Organizing for Action, posted McKeon's response Thursday on YouTube, where it has been picked up by BuzzFeed, The Huffington Post and ABC News.
While Rothenberg said McKeon's comment on border security was a "red herring," he gave McKeon credit for acknowledging several problems with the current immigration system — including employment verification and retaining highly skilled immigrant workers.
"There's lots of areas of agreement," Rothenberg said. "It's not like he opposes everything with immigration." Rothenberg has led efforts to win support for immigration reform in McKeon's district, such as a rally Monday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum and phone banks targeting voters.