Hertel supported Lansing becoming a Sanctuary City

Hertel: “You know, asking people for papers and all those kinds of things can make Lansing and unwelcoming place for people that look different than you or I. So, we don't want that in Lansing. So that's a decision the city council made. I think it's good. I think it's fair.”
The City rescinded its declaration 10 days later on a 5-2 vote.

Hertel supported driver’s licenses to illegals.

Hertel opposed extending Title 42

Hertel doesn’t like to use the term “illegal” for illegal immigrants.

Hertel opposes law enforcement reporting illegal immigrants to ICE

In a 2017 interview, Hertel said he did not think local governments should report illegal immigrants to ICE: “No, I don't believe that we should be calling ICE and actually being involved in that process, I don't. I don't think that is a responsibility of local government.”

Hertel called illegal immigrants “law abiding citizens”

In the same interview, Hertel said, “The idea that somebody who's a law-abiding citizen and these people, you know, whether people want to admit it or not are taxpayers and they're contributing to our community. I don't think that Lansing has a responsibility to be immigration officials. I don't. And I think it's I think, frankly, it's very unwelcoming to have that happen.”

Hertel believes we should “open our borders more”

Also in the interview, Hertel proposed opening up our borders more, “We could solve that problem by actually opening our borders a little more and actually providing an easier path. We can solve that problem by actually providing access to a path to citizenship for these people so there'll be protected.”

Hertel said illegal immigrants are more deserving of American citizenship than those born in America

“In my opinion, those that risk and sacrifice so much who just wanted to be part of the American experience have earned a status among Americans that a lot of us haven’t earned just by being born here.”