Vice President J.D. Vance Discusses Catholic Faith and Immigration Policies
On a recent episode of “Pod Force One,” Vice President J.D. Vance shared his thoughts on balancing his Catholic faith with the immigration policies of the Trump administration. His remarks sparked some criticism earlier this year from various quarters.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops had issued a statement in January denouncing President Trump’s tough immigration stance. However, Vance explained to Miranda Devine from The Post that the administration is striving to honor the “dignity” of immigrants while also maintaining border security.
Having converted to Roman Catholicism in 2019, Vance stated, “The Vatican, particularly under Pope Francis, emphasizes immigration policy. I try to interpret this in a kind way. But let’s be clear, it doesn’t mean I’m naive about becoming Catholic. The Catholic Church acknowledges the necessity for border control. It’s quite explicit in Catholic teaching that states are sovereign and allowed to manage their own borders.”
Vance emphasized, “Yet, we need to remember that many individuals who arrive in our country are facing struggles. They are people too. I may support immigration enforcement, but I must hold onto their humanity.” He added, “My understanding is that yes, a country can enforce its borders while also recognizing that all 8 billion people on Earth are part of God’s creation, deserving respect and dignity, without, however, permitting illegal immigration.”
Under the Biden administration, as many as 8 million immigrants found their way into the United States through various programs, some even crossing paths with Border Patrol agents before being released further into the country.
Vance remarked that negative sentiments regarding immigration from Trump officials stem from their predecessors in the Biden administration, who he claimed “abandoned effective asylum policies” that previously regulated entry into the country.
“I wish Christians would take this more seriously: while we must treat everyone with dignity, if we promote illegal immigration like Biden has, we effectively empower cartels and those involved in heinous acts such as trafficking,” he noted.
In response to a point from Devine, he acknowledged, “Yes, exactly. There’s a need to balance immigration enforcement with treating individuals as humans. Protecting the dignity of both immigrants and Americans is vital, especially in halting a border crisis. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we’ve made strides in this direction.”
In June, border officials recorded the lowest crossing numbers in recent history. When asked about the surge of border crossings under the previous administration, Vance suggested that Biden officials were “using immigration to gain control over this country’s institutions.”
He added, “Interestingly, some openly state, ‘We can’t secure the votes from those already here, so we need new people.’ There’s a morally twisted perspective among enforcement agencies that made them feel unchristian or immoral about enforcing immigration laws, which I believe is misguided.”
Devine pointed out the financial strain on Medicaid as a consequence. Vance responded, “Absolutely, it has led to significant financial challenges. Many Americans saw that the laws governing entry to the U.S. were being violated, which in turn raised housing costs and created competition for jobs against Americans—all happening through fundamentally illegal pathways.”
He argued, “If Biden had openly stated he planned to bring in 5 million low-wage immigrants annually, most Americans would have opposed it. But instead, he did this without consulting the public. I view it as illegal, and it undermines the entire immigration system in our country.”
In the first half of 2025, over 1.4 million individuals left the U.S., many doing so voluntarily because of Trump’s policies. The focus of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations has largely been on immigrants with criminal records, leading to over 100,000 enforced removals by March’s end.
As of now, Vance noted that total deportations are approximately 2 million and emphasized, “We’re working to reduce that number as much as we can, combining forced deportations with voluntary ones.” He added, “There’s a lot to be done, but we will keep pushing on this front.”
Reflecting on his campaign experience, Vance recounted, “People often asked how we could deport 10 million or 18 million people. My response? It’s like eating a large sandwich—one bite at a time.”
Vance also mentioned a recent visit to Jerusalem, sharing how he was moved to tears at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, a significant site in Christian beliefs. “I never expected to cry,” he admitted. “When I knelt down and touched the spot where the cross was, I was completely overwhelmed. It was an emotional moment I hadn’t anticipated.”
