Vice President JD Vance advocated a slowdown in legal immigration Wednesday, saying, “We have to get the overall numbers way, way down.”
Vance took questions from students at the University of Mississippi at an event organized by Turning Point USA, stepping into the role of debater that was so often performed by the organization’s slain founder, Charlie Kirk.
He stated that the optimal number of legal immigrants to admit is “far less than what we’ve been accepting,” but did not provide a specific figure when pressed for details. Additionally, he criticized former President Joe Biden’s immigration policies, claiming they have led to an influx of immigrants that threatens the cultural identity of the country.
“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,” Vance remarked. He emphasized that until that integration occurs, caution should be taken regarding further immigration.
Vance also expressed his commitment to reducing American casualties in “unnecessary foreign conflicts,” praising Trump-era policies, including diplomatic efforts in the Middle East and military actions against drug trafficking in Venezuela.
