**Vance Maintains Stance on False Claims About Haitian Migrants Despite Local Turmoil**

In a recent interview with New York Times opinion podcaster Lulu Garcia-Navarro, vice presidential hopeful JD Vance remained steadfast in his controversial claims surrounding Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio. Despite the resulting chaos, Vance expressed frustration not at the misinformation, but at local officials and their handling of the migrant situation.

Vance refused to retract any falsehoods that he and his running mate, former President Donald Trump, have disseminated on the campaign trail. These baseless claims included allegations that Haitian migrants had been abducting and consuming pets, which led to bomb threats and school closures in Springfield. Rather than apologizing, Vance criticized American leaders for their perceived prioritization of migrants over local citizens.

The Ohio senator specifically mentioned Springfield Mayor Rob Rue and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, both Republicans, who have consistently refuted the misleading claims by Trump and Vance. Though Vance later clarified that his criticism did not extend to DeWine, who supports the Republican presidential ticket.

When questioned if the consequences of spreading these false claims were justified, Vance redirected the conversation to the challenges faced by Springfield residents. He cited rising housing costs, extended wait times for medical services, and a growing number of non-English speaking students in public schools, attributing these issues to the influx of Haitian migrants. However, it is important to note that Haitian immigrants in Springfield are legally present under the Immigration Parole Program.

The rhetoric employed by Trump and Vance on immigration has grown increasingly nativist, striking a chord with Republican voters. During a rally in Aurora, Colorado, Trump repeated unsubstantiated claims about a Venezuelan gang taking over a Denver suburb and alleged that Vice President Kamala Harris had relocated criminals into American communities.

Trump has pledged to oversee the largest mass deportation in U.S. history if elected, recently proposing the invocation of a 1798 act to remove undocumented immigrants affiliated with gangs. Though there were about 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. as of 2022, Trump and Vance have consistently asserted, without credible evidence, that the number exceeds 22 million.

Vance suggested a target of deporting around a million people per year, arguing that additional policies, such as taxes on remittances and employment restrictions, would lead many undocumented immigrants to leave the country voluntarily. This stance forms a significant part of their campaign’s hardline approach to immigration.