Vice President JD Vance advocated for a substantial decrease in legal immigration numbers at an event in Mississippi, asserting, We have to get the overall numbers way, way down. The remarks came during a Q&A session with students at the University of Mississippi, organized by Turning Point USA, an organization known for mobilizing conservative college students.
Vance provided a critique of former President Joe Biden's immigration policies, claiming they had led to an influx of individuals who jeopardize the social fabric of the United States. While he expressed a belief that the optimal acceptance of legal immigrants should be significantly lower than current figures, he refrained from citing a specific number during the event.
Emphasizing the importance of building a cohesive national identity, Vance stated, When something like that happens, you’ve got to allow your own society to cohere a little bit, to build a sense of common identity... for all the newcomers — the ones who are going to stay — to assimilate into American culture. He advised against additional immigration until these cultural integration issues are addressed.
Alongside immigration issues, Vance discussed foreign conflicts, promoting a stance of avoiding unnecessary American casualties in international disputes. He highlighted former President Donald Trump's diplomatic efforts in the Middle East and the U.S. approach towards Venezuela, which involves military pressure.
When questioned about the implications of executive power, particularly in the context of Trump deploying the National Guard to Democratic cities, Vance reassured supporters that such actions should not instill fear. He justified the broader use of executive power in light of perceived aggressions from the left, stating, We cannot be afraid to do something because the left might do it in the future.
The event also featured Erika Kirk, the widow of Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk, who introduced Vance and shared her own experience of advocating for conservative values on college campuses. She encouraged young conservatives to stand firm in their beliefs despite possible social backlash.
