Ohio Sen. JD Vance, a potential running mate for former President Donald Trump, avoided directly addressing questions about whether Trump’s proposed “zero tolerance” immigration policy would result in family separations during an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.” Vance emphasized the need to prevent illegal immigration before considering mass deportations, criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris for her handling of the issue. He suggested that deportations would prioritize violent criminals and accused Harris of supporting policies that led to family separations.
President Joe Biden had reversed the zero-tolerance policy upon taking office and established a family reunification task force to address separations that occurred under the Trump administration. A bipartisan immigration and border security plan crafted by senators with input from the Biden administration initially had support from both parties, but GOP backing waned after Trump signaled disapproval.
Trump recently visited the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona for a campaign event, where he also avoided clarifying whether his border policies would result in family separations. He vaguely mentioned that provisions would be made for mixed-status families, without specifying details. Despite the lack of clarity, Vance’s comments indicate continued support for Trump’s tough stance on immigration, focusing on deporting violent criminals and criticizing Democratic policies.
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