RALEIGH, N.C. — Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance claimed Wednesday that Haitian migrants who have legal status in the U.S. are “illegal aliens” and suggested they might face deportation if Donald Trump wins the election.
Immigration remains a key issue for Republicans. Trump has promised to implement the “largest-ever deportation” on his first day in office if elected.
During a speech in Raleigh, Vance criticized the current administration’s handling of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and mass parole for migrants from certain countries. He accused Vice President Kamala Harris of improperly granting protection to these migrants.
“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 said. “That does not make them legal. It makes her border policy a disgrace, and I will continue to call people illegal aliens.”
The Biden administration recently extended TPS for Haitian migrants in the U.S. until February 3, 2026. This status protects against deportation but does not grant permanent legal status. Other nationals, including those from Venezuela, Syria, Ukraine, and Afghanistan, can also receive TPS.
Vance’s remarks follow controversy in Springfield, Ohio, where false claims circulated that Haitian immigrants were stealing and eating pets. Despite evidence proving these claims false, Trump and other Republicans continued to spread them. The Wall Street Journal reported that Vance’s staff confirmed the falsehoods but used them in their campaign.
Springfield City Manager Bryan Heck stated, “There was no verifiable evidence or reports to show these claims were true. They were baseless.”
The controversy intensified after Trump mentioned Springfield during a presidential debate, further fueling Republican criticism of the Biden administration’s immigration policies.
In North Carolina, Vance continued to criticize the Biden-Harris administration, accusing them of worsening housing costs, overburdening hospitals, and overcrowding local schools by allowing millions of illegal migrants into the country.
“Who consented to allowing millions of aliens to come into this country unchecked, unvetted?” Vance asked. “None of us did.”
Vance also sidestepped a question about the economic impact of mass deportations on industries dependent on migrant labor, such as agriculture and construction.
“Farmers are as upset about open borders as almost anybody else,” he said. “I reject the idea that the only way to have a productive farm economy is to allow 25 million legal aliens into this country.”
