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In a video exclusively obtained by The Midwesterner, battleground district candidate Curtis Hertel, Jr. says Americans owe “a debt” to illegal immigrants and that he does not support “deporting anybody.”

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“I’ve said in the past that we should respect those that have tried to come here, because even if they haven’t done it legally, we owe a debt,” Hertel said during an October 3rd candidate meet-and-greet event in South Lyon.

“Like, they took a risk for their family and there’s nothing more American than that.”

In another portion of the exchange with an attendee, Hertel said, “I’m getting hit right now because I said that Lansing police should not have the ability to just ask people for their papers, for example. Like, I don’t believe in it. I think it’s unwelcoming of the community.”

“Will you be working with the Republicans to try to deport everybody,” the attendee asked Hertel in the video.

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“No, I don’t have an interest in deporting anybody,” Hertel responded.

Hertel, a former state legislator and senior aide to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, has been locked in a tight race with Tom Barrett in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, which includes much of mid-Michigan.

Hertel’s statement stands in stark contrast to a television ad by his campaign where he touted his purported position.

“You wanna know what’s wrong with politics? Egos, big egos, they wanna look good, but I’d rather do some good,” Hertel said.

“And when Democrats are weak on border security, I called them out,” he claimed.

In May, Hertel sent a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to reinstate some of former President Donald Trump’s policies, including “Remain in Mexico,” the New York Post reported.

“It is imperative that both parties collaborate on pragmatic, bipartisan immigration reforms that enhance border security while providing a pathway to citizenship for long-term undocumented immigrants,” the letter said, conflicting with his recent comments.

Hertel’s apparent true feelings would come as good news to former 7th Congressional District residents Rafique Malik Muhammad and Severiano Marcos Maximo, who were both in the country illegally and deported after being charged with sex crimes.

Muhammad was charged in October 2023 with one count of accosting a child for immoral purposes, according to WLNS. He was caught in a child predator operation by law enforcement that also ensnared Maximo. He was charged with “one count each of using a computer to communicate with another to commit a crime, attempted criminal sexual conduct 3 and accosting a child for immoral purposes,” WLNS said.

“On Oct. 26, 2023, ERO Grand Rapids lodged an immigration detainer with the Eaton County Jail in Charlotte, Michigan where Marcos Maximo was being held on local charges. He was convicted in the Eaton County 56th Circuit Court March 28, 2024, on sex crime charges and sentenced to 300 days. Upon his release, ERO Grand Rapids took custody of him July 1, 2024, and issued him an order of removal. He was removed to Mexico, July 16, 2024,” an ICE official told the news station.

An early October poll found Barrett leading Hertel, 47.1% to 43.4%, according to The Hill. The seat is currently held by Elissa Slotkin who is running for a U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Debbie Stabenow. The New York Times reports the 7th District is one of the top races in the country.