GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The high-stakes race for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat intensified this week following a heated televised debate between Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed and Republican nominee Mike Rogers. The confrontation has sparked a wave of online scrutiny, with viral social media posts revisiting past statements on immigration policy from both candidates.
A recent social media post circulating on X, formerly Twitter, claimed that El-Sayed, a physician and progressive public health official, advocates for “open borders and no deportations.” The post highlighted a quote from El-Sayed stating, “We as a country, I believe, owe it to the world to open our doors.”
Democrat Nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan Abdul El-Sayed wants open borders and no deportations:
“We as a country, I believe, owe it to the world to open our doors.” pic.twitter.com/5b1GAqpopH
— America (@america) October 10, 2026
A fact-check of the statement reveals that the video clip in question dates back to July 2018, during El-Sayed’s primary campaign for governor of Michigan. In the original full-length video, El-Sayed was speaking specifically about federal refugee resettlement programs and immigration policies under the Trump administration, criticizing family separations at the southern border and calling for a compassionate framework for asylum seekers.
During Thursday night’s debate, the conversation returned to federal enforcement and border control. While El-Sayed has previously supported progressive proposals such as abolishing and restructuring Immigration and Customs Enforcement, his current 2026 Senate platform emphasizes creating a clear pathway to legal citizenship and implementing an organized system for border management, rather than an unrestricted entry policy.
Rogers, a former U.S. representative, utilized the debate to attack El-Sayed’s platforms, framing them as detrimental to national security. Backed by an endorsement from Donald Trump, Rogers campaigned on a platform of strict border security, reducing energy costs, and bringing manufacturing jobs back to Michigan. Rogers pointed to his opponent’s progressive voting alignments as evidence of an economic and security policy that he claims is out of touch with working-class residents.
The Michigan Senate seat became open following the retirement announcement of Democratic Sen. Gary Peters. The race has drawn significant national attention and multi-million dollar investments from outside political action committees, as the outcome on Nov. 3 will be crucial in determining which party controls the U.S. Senate.
Recent public opinion polls reflect a highly competitive race in the battleground state. A late-September survey showed El-Sayed leading Rogers by 5 percentage points, though separate polling from earlier in the cycle gave Rogers a narrow edge, underscoring the volatile nature of the electorate as the final weeks of the campaign approach.
The candidates are scheduled to face off in their second and final debate on Oct. 21.