VIDEO: Rep. Steve Knight confronts anti-immigration protester

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (KABC) -- U.S. Rep. Steve Knight (R-Palmdale) lost his cool during a heated confrontation with protesters, and it was all caught on video.

The confrontation happened Friday outside Knight's Simi Valley office, where anti-immigration protesters were gathered for a rally.

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In the video, someone identifying himself as "Mike" approaches the congressman and says, "You told me you didn't vote for amnesty and you did. You lied to me. I looked it up on the Internet."

The protester appeared to grip Knight's hand roughly and slaps him on the shoulder. This prompts Knight's angry outburst.

"If you touch me again, I'll drop your a--," Knight tells the protester.

The entire encounter was posted on YouTube by a group calling itself We the People Rising. The group's website calls for a tough stand on illegal immigration and shows members confronting lawmakers they see as being soft on the issue.

Knight, a former Los Angeles police officer, then launches into an occasionally garbled explanation of his votes, as the small but agitated crowd repeatedly interrupts.

"I never voted for amnesty," Knight insists, saying he had also voted for an earlier House bill that would have undone President Barack Obama's immigration moves, but it couldn't get through the Senate.

In response to the confrontation, Knight released a statement saying the group has repeatedly tried to goad him in their encounters "to a level that is not constructive. Over this past weekend, I lost my cool and I regret responding the way I did."

For the most part, We the People Rising members view the congressman's statement as a step in the right direction. However, some say they would like to see a more direct apology.

"We do appreciate it but you know, it is a threat from a congressman, and I think you would have to be kind of a fool not to take that seriously," said Greg Aprahamian, a member of the group.

One thing is clear - the congressman's statement won't change the group's tactics.

"He's my congressman. I live in the district, and we will continue to engage our elected officials," Aprahamian said.

For Knight, the incident serves as a bitter reminder of the emotional divide over immigration reform and how quickly those emotions can get out of control.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.