House Committee Hears McMillin Citizens' Rights Bill

The House Oversight, Reform and Ethics Committee this week heard testimony on a bill, introduced by Rep. Tom McMillin, R-Rochester Hills, to exempt the state of Michigan from taking part in the arrest and detention of citizens by the federal government without due process of law, according to a news release.

House Bill 5768 would exempt any employee of a Michigan agency or the Michigan National Guard from taking part in the detention of residents under the National Defense Authorization Act's indefinite detention provision, if such aid would place the agency or employee in violation of the U.S. Constitution, the Michigan Constitution or any Michigan law.

U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, R-Cascade Township, was one who offered his support.

"I appreciate the support from Congressman Amash, who has fought against the federal law that enables the executive branch to arrest and indefinitely detain anyone on U.S. soil using the slightest thread of evidence or suspicion," said McMillin, R-Rochester Hills, who chairs the committee, in a statement from the Michigan House Republicans.

"Michigan residents should not be party to what most people consider an unconstitutional infringement on the rights of citizens by indefinitely imprisoning someone under the most ambiguous of terms."

Amash was joined in supportive testimony by Shelli Weisberg, legislative director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan.

"This kind of seeping detention power is completely at odds with our American values, violates the Constitution, and corrodes our nation's commitment to the rule of law, which generations have fought to preserve," Weisberg said in a statement. "The ACLU of Michigan fully supports HB 5768 and we thank Representative McMillin for introducing this important legislation and standing with the ACLU in support of protecting these civil liberties."

Additional testimony will take place at a future committee meeting before advancing the bill to the full House for consideration, McMillin said.