RALEIGH, N.C. — Republican vice presidential nominee Senator JD Vance declared Wednesday that Haitian migrants with legal immigration status should be considered “illegal aliens” who have been unlawfully shielded from deportation, hinting at potential changes should Trump reclaim the presidency.
Immigration remains a critical concern for the Republican party, with Trump promising one of the largest deportation efforts in American history on the first day of his potential new term.
In a speech in Raleigh, when asked about the fate of legally present migrants under a future Trump administration, Vance argued that their protection was unjustly granted and criticized Vice President Harris for the current administration’s application of mass parole and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for individuals from specific nations.
“What is fundamentally illegal is for Kamala Harris to say we’re going to grant parole, not on a case-by-case basis, but to millions of illegal aliens coming to this country,” Vance stated. “That does not magically make them legal. It exposes her border policy as a disgrace, and I’m continuing to refer to these individuals as illegal aliens.”
The Biden administration has recently extended TPS for migrants from Haiti until February 3, 2026, which protects them from deportation but does not provide permanent legal status. While Vance spotlighted Haiti, nationals from numerous countries, including Venezuela, Syria, Ukraine, and Afghanistan, are also eligible for TPS.
In Springfield, Ohio, tensions have escalated due to bomb threats and harassment directed at residents after Vance, Trump, and other Republicans propagated false narratives claiming Haitian immigrants were involved in bizarre criminal activities. A local report revealed that Vance’s staff questioned the Springfield city manager about these incendiary claims, confirmed their inaccuracy, yet shared them regardless.
City Manager Bryan Heck confirmed, “He asked point-blank, ‘Are the rumors true of pets being taken and eaten?’ I told him no. There was no verifiable evidence or reports to support these assertions, and they are baseless.”
Discontent towards the Biden administration’s immigration strategy peaked following Trump’s mention of Springfield during a recent debate, highlighting Republican criticism of the administration’s management of illegal immigration and border security issues.
In North Carolina, Vance maintained his confrontational stance, asserting that the Biden-Harris administration’s “disgraceful” immigration policy is allowing millions of illegal aliens to exacerbate housing costs, overwhelm hospitals, and hinder children’s education in local schools.
“Who consented?” Vance challenged the audience. “Who in this room, who in this country, consented to allowing millions of aliens to enter this country unchecked and unvetted? None of us did.”
When confronted regarding the economic implications of widespread deportations, especially in industries reliant on migrant labor, Vance remarked, “Farmers are just as concerned about open borders as anyone else. I reject the notion that a productive agriculture sector depends on allowing millions of illegal aliens into this country.”
