He emphasised a commitment to reducing illegal migration, bolstering border enforcement, and increasing deportations. Vance also defended the administration's use of tariffs to boost American jobs and investment.
US Vice-President James Vance has outlined the Donald Trump's administration's stance on critical issues, including immigration, deportation, border security, and economic policies.
He emphasised a commitment to reducing illegal migration, bolstering border enforcement, and increasing deportations. Vance also defended the administration's use of tariffs to boost American jobs and investment.
Speaking at a press briefing, Vance addressed the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and green-card holder recently arrested for allegedly spreading pro-Hamas propaganda. Vance stated, "A green card holder doesn't have an indefinite right to be in the United States."
He added, "This is not fundamentally about free speech. Yes, it's about national security, but it's also more importantly about who we, as an American public, decide gets to join our national community."
According to Economic Times, Vance indicated that the Trump administration is prepared to take action against student visa holders or other non-citizens involved in activities deemed a threat to national security.
"I think we'll certainly see some people who get deported on student visas if we determine that it's not in the best interest of the United States to have them in our country," he said.
Vance highlighted the administration's efforts to reduce illegal migration, noting that migrant crossings at the southern border have dropped by "well over 95%" since President Trump returned to office in January.
With border security measures in place, Vance said the administration is now focusing on increasing deportations. "We're building that capacity up," he stated.
He criticised the Biden administration for underfunding immigration detention facilities and weakening Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
"Joe Biden underfunded migrant detention facilities and destroyed ICE, leaving the Trump administration with a hole that we have to dig out of," Vance said.
He praised Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and "border czar" Tom Homan for implementing self-deportation policies.
"We're going to encourage a lot of people to self-deport. We don't have to knock on your door. Before that happens, why don't you get on a plane and go home yourself?" he added.
When asked about the possibility of a recession, Vance responded, "You can never predict the future."However, he expressed confidence in the economy's fundamentals, stating, "I think the fundamentals of the economy are actually quite strong right now, and we will see how this unfolds. I think by increasing businesses' investments in American workers and reshoring some of those supply chains, we are going to make this economy stronger over the long haul. That is the President's ultimate goal."
Vance also defended the administration's use of tariffs, a key component of Trump's "America First" approach. He criticised the European Union (EU) for its trade practices, saying, "The EU has in some ways been the worst on American workers and American industries of anybody.
"They impose ridiculous tariffs and they say they are our most important ally and, of course, we care about European security, but they don't treat us like an ally when it comes to economics.
"The president wants to bring jobs and investment back to the US, build more here, invest more here, raise wages here and you won't have to pay these tariffs at all," he said.