JD Vance wants to 'start with 1 million' deportations to solve migrant crisis

Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance, on Saturday (August 10), addressed criticism of his past remarks on childless Americans, and defended the Trump campaign's immigration proposals during an interview with ABC’s "This Week" anchor Jonathan Karl.

As the 2024 presidential race heats up with Vice President Kamala Harris taking the lead on the Democratic ticket, the Ohio senator said he was confident of the GOP's chances of returning to the White House.

"I think we're going to win. I also think that we have to work as hard as possible for the remainder of the election to try to persuade Americans to vote for us," Vance stated while calling for a strong final push in the campaign.

Vance has faced criticism for previous comments about childless individuals, including a 2021 interview with then-Fox News host Tucker Carlson, where he referred to leading Democrats, including Harris, as "childless cat ladies."

In a prior speech to the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, Vance proposed the idea of giving extra votes to parents and suggested that parents should have more voting power.

When questioned about these remarks, Vance called his statements as a "thought experiment" rather than a serious policy proposal.

"Do I regret saying it? I regret that the media and the Kamala Harris campaign has, frankly, distorted what I said," he told Karl, stressing that he intended to advocate for a more pro-family stance.

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The interview also touched on the ongoing migrant crisis.

Vance blamed Harris and the Biden administration for the current situation along the southern border and said the end of the "Remain in Mexico" policy was a key factor in the ongoing crisis.

When asked about the Trump campaign's goal of deporting up to 20 million undocumented immigrants, Vance suggested a 'sequential approach',starting with the deportation of violent criminals and tightening enforcement against illegal labour.

"Let's start with 1 million," Vance said.

(With inputs from agencies)