In a vice presidential debate held on Tuesday night, Ohio Sen. JD Vance addressed issues related to immigration, focusing on its impact on wages for U.S.-born workers. Notably, Vance refrained from amplifying false claims about immigrants, such as those involving pet consumption. Instead, he emphasized policies to prevent illegal immigrants from undercutting wages, asserting that stricter wage enforcement would benefit American workers seeking fair compensation.
Labor economists generally disagree with the assertion that immigrants lower wages for native-born workers. During the debate, Vance avoided discussing the controversial family separation policy from former President Donald Trump’s tenure. Instead, he incorrectly suggested that guns are smuggled into the U.S. from Mexico, when in fact the opposite is true. He also attributed the housing crisis to immigration, although conservative analysts note that housing issues pre-date recent migration trends, which have only exacerbated existing problems.
Vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz countered Vance’s points, reminding viewers of a bipartisan bill aimed at strengthening border enforcement, which was blocked at Trump’s behest. Walz assured that Kamala Harris would sign it on her first day in office if elected.
Both debaters touched on the issue of fentanyl, a topic often linked to immigration. However, data indicates that fentanyl is mainly smuggled into the U.S. by legal entrants at ports of entry, and the street supply is reportedly decreasing.
Vance also faced criticism from Walz for his previous remarks about Haitian immigrants, with Walz cautioning against dehumanizing rhetoric. Walz’s statements aimed to address the serious nature of immigration, which remains a significant concern for voters and a perceived vulnerability for Democrats.
In summary, the debate highlighted divergent views on immigration policies, wage impacts, and the handling of drug trafficking, emphasizing the complexity of these issues in the political discourse.
