Vice President JD Vance participated in his first sit-down interview since taking office, appearing Sunday on CBS’s Face the Nation.
Vance began by sparring with CBS’s Margaret Brennan on issues such as President Donald Trump’s Cabinet appointees, grocery prices, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The highlight of the interview, however, occurred when the topic turned to immigration.
Brennan opened the discussion by pointing out the pushback on Trump’s executive orders concerning illegal immigration, namely from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Vance, a practicing Catholic, said the statement disappointed him.
“I think the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has, frankly, not been a good partner in commonsense immigration enforcement that the American people voted for,” he said.
Vance also questioned whether the conference had other motives for their approval of illegal immigration.
“I think that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops needs to actually look in the mirror a little bit,” Vance said. “When they receive over $100 million to help resettle illegal immigrants, are they worried about humanitarian concerns? Or are they actually worried about their bottom line?”
Brennan questioned Vance on whether he approved of government officials conducting a deportation raid at a church or a school.
Although Brennan designed her question as an ambush, Vance was not fazed, saying law enforcement officers should be able to apprehend violent criminals wherever they are.
“Of course, if you have a person who is convicted of a violent crime, whether they’re an illegal immigrant or a nonillegal immigrant, you have to go and get that person to protect the public safety,” Vance said. “That’s not unique to immigration.”
Vance is correct in saying that violent criminals, whether illegal immigrants or anyone else, should not be immune to arrest just because they are in a church or school. Even U.S. citizens are not immune to arrest if they happen to be in a specific location. Law enforcement should be able to efficiently apprehend violent criminals in the country.
Brennan then attacked Vance on the Trump administration’s executive order ending birthright citizenship. Vance clarified the statement, saying the policy should not apply to those in the United States illegally or temporarily.
“America should actually look out for the interests of our citizens first, and that means, again, if you’re here permanently and lawfully, your kid becomes an American citizen,” Vance said. “If you’re not here permanently, you’re not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.”
Brennan claimed that many of the immigrants are refugees and that all need to go through a rigorous vetting process. Vance pushed back, citing an incident in Oklahoma, where a supposed refugee who had apparently gone through the proper vetting process was caught planning a terrorist attack.
“I don’t want my children to share a neighborhood with people who are not properly vetted,” Vance said. “Because I don’t want it for my kids, I’m not going to force any other American citizens’ kids to do that either.”
Brennan then questioned Vance on whether the Oklahoma terrorist was radicalized while in the U.S.
Vance replied with his now-famous line.
“I don’t really care, Margaret,” he said. “I don’t want that person in my country, and I think most Americans agree with me.”
People have a right to defend their borders from violent invaders. For immigrants who intend to enter the country legally, there is infrastructure in place to make it possible. Vance is correct in saying that those who enter the U.S. illegally and commit crimes do not have the country’s best interests at heart.
The interview solidified the Trump administration’s position on protecting the nation’s borders. It also showcased Vance’s strengths as vice president.
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Vance is able to battle the press while maintaining a calm attitude. He says what needs to be said about tricky subjects without losing his composure.
If there was any doubt regarding Trump’s pick of Vance as vice president, those questions should be gone after Sunday’s interview.