Folks, buckle up because things got heated on Sunday’s edition of “Meet the Press” when Senator JD Vance took on anchor Kristen Welker over the ongoing illegal immigration crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. If you missed it, you’re going to want to hear this!
Senator Vance, a Republican from Ohio, didn’t mince words when discussing Vice President Kamala Harris’s role—or, as he argues, her lack of action—since being tasked with addressing the border situation.
Remember, Harris was given the responsibility to tackle the “root causes of migration” a few years back, earning her the title of “border czar” from various media outlets. But according to Vance, things haven’t exactly gone according to plan.
Hello 911, I’d like to report a murder:
JD Vance: Whatever the number is, it's way too high. Millions upon millions of illegals have come in since Kamala became border czar.
Welker: She was put in charge of the root causes of migration.
JD Vance: Well, the root causes of… pic.twitter.com/igMpSASVSC
— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) August 25, 2024
Vance kicked off the conversation with a bold statement, claiming, “We have 25 million illegal aliens in this country right now because Kamala Harris has refused to do her job.” Whoa! That’s a number that would make anyone sit up and take notice.
But Kristen Welker wasn’t having it. She quickly pushed back, citing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and saying, “It’s much lower, closer to eight million. Where do you get the 25 million from?”
Now, Vance didn’t back down. He explained that his figure included not just those who should have been deported but weren’t, but also the millions more who have crossed the border since Harris took on her role. He admitted the exact number might be up for debate but insisted, “Whatever the number is, it’s way too high, right?”
Welker wasn’t ready to let that slide. She reiterated that DHS disputes Vance’s numbers, suggesting the true figure is between eight and ten million. But Vance held his ground, arguing that the situation is dire no matter which estimate you believe.
The real sparks flew when Welker tried to clarify Harris’s role, pointing out, “She was put in charge of the root causes of migration.” Vance, however, wasn’t buying that as an excuse. He fired back, “Well, the root cause of migration, I would say, Kristen, is that Kamala Harris refuses to do her job as Border Czar.”