After former President Trump announced that he had chosen Republican Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio as his running mate, immigration hardliners reacted with jubilation, pointing to Vance’s staunch record of opposition to illegal immigration and his votes for increased border security.
“President Trump was first elected to secure our border and enforce our immigration laws after decades of inaction in Washington, and he’s made good on that promise,” RJ Howman, president of the National Immigration Enforcement Center, told Fox News Digital. “By selecting a committed immigration reformer like Senator Vance as his running mate, President Trump has reminded the American people that we must secure our border and vigorously enforce our immigration laws.”
“The largest deportation operation in American history now has an incredible co-pilot,” he said.
Trump nominates Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance for 2024 presidential run
An unaccompanied minor walks toward a U.S. Border Patrol vehicle after crossing the border from Mexico, May 9, 2023, in El Paso, Texas. (John Moore/Getty Images)
Trump announced Vance’s nomination early Monday, saying he had fought “exceptionally well” for workers and farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio and Minnesota. The theme of Tuesday’s convention is “Make America Safe Again,” and with the ongoing crisis on the southern border having a major impact on the presidential election, border security and illegal immigration crime are likely to be hot topics.
The Ohio senator has received high marks from hardline groups seeking to reduce immigration for his votes and stance on immigration: Heritage Action gives him a 93% rating on the issue.
“Scoring a 93 percent rating on Heritage Action’s scorecard, Senator J.D. Vance has proven himself to be a passionate conservative fighter in the Senate. He wants to secure our border, enforce the rule of law, and protect American workers,” said Heritage Action Vice President Ryan Walker. “With his track record, impressive record and unique background, Senator Vance will help President Trump return to the White House and secure our border for good.”
As a senator, Vance currently has an “A” rating. Numbers USAThe group noted that it was a co-sponsor of the Senate version of the House Republican border bill, known as HR2, and voted against a recent bipartisan Senate bill supported by the Biden administration.
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Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) arrives on the first day of the Republican National Convention at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on July 15, 2024. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
The committee also cited his votes for bills to mandate the E-Verify work authorization system, criminalize visa overstays, limit the use of humanitarian parole, and his efforts to raise the fear-credibility standard for asylum seekers. Other immigration hardliners pointed to bills he supports that overhaul “alternatives to detention,” as well as a bill that would require GPS tracking of all undocumented immigrants not in custody.
“Senator Vance stands out for his ability to articulate the dysfunction inherent in our legal immigration system, particularly the toll it takes on American workers through lower wages and job losses, and his understanding that high immigration leads to higher housing costs,” said NumbersUSA CEO James Massa. “Senator Vance understands that immigration policy should no longer be determined by special interests in Washington, D.C., or big corporations seeking cheap labor at the expense of American workers, but must be crafted for the benefit of all Americans.”
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US Tech Workers, a group that opposes the H-1B visa program, which it criticizes as being used by tech companies to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor, noted that Vance has previously criticized the program.
“We hope that with this unified candidate, we can finally get H-1B visa reform done,” the account said.
Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, said Vance “has a chance to help the Republican Party become more than just rhetoric but truly the party of working people.”
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Vance spoke to Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Monday night, highlighting Trump’s pledge to launch a mass deportation campaign if elected in November.
“We have to deport people. We have to deport people who have broken our laws and entered the country. We have to start with violent criminals. President Trump has communicated very effectively on this issue and a majority of Americans now believe we need to deport a lot of people who are in the country illegally,” he said.
