In a recent revelation that has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, a video has emerged featuring Curtis Hertel, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Congress, expressing his support for illegal immigration.
The video, released by local publication The Midwesterner, shows Hertel, who is in a tight race against popular Republican candidate and 22-year combat veteran Tom Barrett, stating that America "owes" those who illegally crossed the southern border "respect" for their bravery.
According to Gateway Pundit, the video captures Hertel, a former top lobbyist for Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, at an October 3 campaign event in South Lyon, Michigan. In the video, Hertel can be heard saying, "Ive said in the past that we should respect those that have tried to come here. Because even if they havent done it legally, we owe a debtlike, they taking a risk for their familytheres nothing more American than that."
Hertel's comments have sparked controversy, particularly among Michigan voters who disagree with his liberal views on immigration. The Democratic candidate expressed frustration with this opposition, stating, "But Im getting hit right now because I said that Lansing Police should not have the ability to just ask people for their papers. Like, I dont believe that. I think its unwelcoming."
When asked if he would collaborate with Republicans to deport illegal immigrants, Hertel responded, "No, I dont have an interest in deporting anybody."
The question now is whether this revelation will impact Hertel's chances in the closely contested race against Barrett, a former MI State Representative (2015-2019) and MI Senator (2019-2023) who served in the US Army in the Iraq War, Guantanamo Bay, Kuwait, and the Korean DMZ. The latest poll shows Barrett leading by 4.1% in this critical US House race.
Barrett, when asked about Hertel's comments, accused his opponent of attempting to mislead voters about his stance on border security. "On TV, he says he stands up to his party about border security, but in private, he admits he wouldnt deport anyone, even those on the terror watch list or the nearly half a million that we know about with felony convictions that Harris released into our county," Barrett said.
Barrett outlined his plan to address illegal immigration, should he become Michigans District 7 Representative in the United States Congress. He proposed to "Finish the wall, hire more agents, and deport those here illegally, starting with those on the terror watch list and those with criminal convictions." He also mentioned his previous efforts as a Michigan Senator to stop sanctuary cities in Michigan, contrasting this with Hertel's support for such cities.
The Congressional Leadership Fund has reported that Hertel opposes local governments reporting illegal immigrants to ICE and supports sanctuary cities. Hertel even backed Lansings previous decision to declare itself a sanctuary city before city officials reconsidered. If Hertel had his way, Lansing would join the ranks of sanctuary cities like New York and Chicago, which are grappling with an influx of undocumented immigrants and rising migrant crime.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, recently tweeted about the Democratic strategy of placing illegal immigrants in swing states across America. He wrote, "Massive numbers flown directly to swing states and put on the fast track to citizenship. Voter importation. Its a sure way for the Democratic Party to achieve permanent victory. Diabolically smart."
Hertel has also faced criticism for his support of a plan to bring a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) battery plant into rural Michigan, a plan that his opponent, Tom Barrett, opposes. Hertel has been under scrutiny for signing a non-disclosure agreement related to economic development projects and his support for a state business incentives program that allocated $175 million for a Chinese company to construct a 2,350-job, $2.4 billion battery-components plant near Big Rapids.
Residents of Big Rapids and surrounding communities have been fighting the construction of the CCP-tied battery plant for over a year. Their efforts have so far been successful in preventing the construction of the project that Hertel and Whitmer have been pushing for in their small, rural community.
In another twist, last month, the Michigan Inspector General was asked to investigate Curtis Hertel Jr., who has been accused of misusing public funds and political connections to secure a lucrative job in healthcare. The request was made by political watchdog Americans for Public Trust, who alleged that Hertel misused his position as Whitmers director of legislative affairs to secure funding for the Greater Flint Health Coalition, run by a former colleague of Hertel.
The allegations and controversies surrounding Hertel's campaign raise questions about his suitability for office and his commitment to upholding the rule of law, particularly in relation to immigration policy. As the race for Michigans District 7 Representative in the United States Congress heats up, voters will be watching closely to see how these developments impact the outcome.
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