Vance’s Debate Had More Than Just the Springfield Pet-Eating Immigration Hoax

At the vice presidential debate, racist rumors about Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, were revived. The debate featured Governor Tim Walz and Senator JD Vance (R-OH).

During the debate, Vance responded to criticism from Governor Walz regarding his willingness to “create stories” about migrants to draw attention to Americans in distress. Vance highlighted issues in Springfield, such as overcrowded schools and rising home prices, attributing them to “millions of illegal immigrants.” When the moderator clarified that Springfield’s Haitian community largely resides legally in the U.S. through Temporary Protected Status, Vance chastised her for breaking the no-fact-checking rule and presented further dubious claims.

Vance also discussed the CBP One app, claiming it allowed illegal migrants to be granted legal status easily. However, the app, which launched in October 2020 under President Trump and expanded under President Biden, merely facilitates the initial step in a lengthy asylum process. Although migrants can use the app to schedule asylum appointments, the process often takes months or years, with many facing deportation eventually. The app has limitations, including appointment scarcity and geographical restrictions.

Additionally, the “Circumvention of Lawful Pathways Final Rule,” implemented by Biden in 2023, restricts asylum for those entering the U.S. without prior appointment requests, barring several exemptions. Migrant advocates criticize this rule as an effective asylum ban.

Throughout the debate, Vance made several misleading statements. He falsely claimed involvement of migrant school shooters and attributed 94 executive orders to Vice President Harris, purportedly suspending deportations and increasing asylum fraud. In reality, a 100-day deportation moratorium attempt by Biden was blocked by a federal judge. Despite efforts to reform Trump-era immigration policies, Biden’s administration faced legal and political challenges.

Biden’s deportation numbers are comparable to Trump’s, with 1.1 million deportations and around 3 million expulsions under the defunct Title 42 policy. Despite their restrictive border policies, Biden and Harris face accusations of promoting “open borders” from Vance and other Republicans. Vance’s accusations regarding fentanyl smuggling and the loss of 320,000 migrant children lack substantial evidence. Most smuggling occurs through ports of entry, often involving American citizens and sometimes CBP agents themselves.

The moderators could not address all of Vance’s claims during the debate due to their volume. CBS provided a QR code for viewers to access live fact-checking on their website. It remains uncertain how many viewers utilized this resource.

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