Michigan U.S. House candidate Curtis Hertel Jr., a Democrat, was caught on video telling a voter that Americans “owe a debt” to illegal immigrants, adding that he has no “interest in deporting anybody.”

The video, obtained by the conservative outlet The Midwesterner, showed Hertel discussing his immigration policy with voters. Hertel was speaking to voters at a meet-and-greet in South Lyon, Michigan, on October 3, according to information about the event reviewed by The Daily Wire.

“I’ve said, for example, 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 in the video that was posted by The Midwesterner. “Like, they took the risk for their family, and there’s nothing more American than that.”

Asked if he would “work with Republicans” on pushing for deportations, Hertel replied, “No, I don’t have an interest in deporting anybody.”

In a Midwesterner exclusive, Michigan congressional candidate Curtis Hertel, Jr. was caught on video saying Americans owe “a debt” to illegal immigrants and, “I don’t have an interest in deporting anybody.” pic.twitter.com/N5w5sZAnQ2

— The Midwesterner (@Th_Midwesterner) October 25, 2024

During his campaign, Hertel has attempted to position himself as a Democrat who is willing to work with Republicans and bragged that “when Democrats are weak on border security, I called them out.”

Hertel is running against Republican Iraq War veteran Tom Barrett in Michigan’s 7th House District, a seat currently held by Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin, who is running for Senate. Barrett blasted his Democrat opponent after The Midwesterner’s video of Hertel spread on social media.

“On TV @CurtisHertelJr says he will stand up to his party and secure the border, but in private he says we owe a debt to illegal immigrants and will not deport anyone!” Barrett posted on X on Friday.

Senior Trump campaign adviser Tim Murtaugh added, “This is shocking. Disqualifying for anyone running for Congress. @tombarrettmi7 is the obvious choice to help Donald Trump fix the economy, secure the border, and Make America Great Again, again. Michigan-7 is a key race that may decide control of the House.”

A spokesman for Hertel’s campaign told The Daily Wire in a statement that the video of the Democratic candidate’s comments is “deceptively spliced and edited.”

“This deceptively spliced and edited video does not change the fact that Curtis is committed to securing the border and called on President Biden to take stronger, unilateral action. Nor does it change the fact that Tom Barrett opposed the bipartisan border deal that was endorsed by the Border Patrol union because he would rather play politics with this issue than solve it,” said Hertel campaign spokesman Sam Kwait-Spitzer.

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Earlier this year, Hertel sent a letter to President Joe Biden about “communities facing challenges related to the fentanyl crisis and the accommodation of asylum seekers.” The bipartisan border bill that was negotiated by Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), and Chris Murphy (D-CT) was strongly rejected by a majority of Republican lawmakers and former President Donald Trump, who argued that the bill would not adequately stop the record number of migrants illegally crossing the border under the Biden-Harris administration.

The swing district House race in Michigan is an important election for both parties. Republicans currently hold control of the House with an eight-seat majority over Democrats.