During C-SPAN's Washington Journal program Monday, a Republican caller from North Dakota suggested American citizenship be limited to white people, citing the 1790 Naturalization Act that limited citizenship to "free white persons."
Jim, the caller, argued the nation's founders never intended large-scale immigration and expressed disapproval of current demographic changes.
"They never would have allowed this to happen, open borders. And I think they'd be disappointed when they looked at those inner cities and things right now," Jim said.
A Democratic caller from Connecticut named Victoria responded by calling his comments "disgusting" and attributed the sentiment to President Donald Trump's influence.
"I can also remember 1976 and how that whole year it seemed like we were in celebration mode," Victoria said, "That's not how we are today."
"Fifty years ago, we were on the heels of civil rights legislation that is now being repealed," Victoria concluded.
The C-SPAN host, Pedro, did not respond to either caller's comments.
Watch the video below.