Vice President Vance Doubles Down on Deportation Agenda Despite Minneapolis Unrest
Vice President JD Vance has emphatically declared that the White House remains steadfast in its commitment to a mass deportation campaign, despite mounting backlash following deadly incidents in Minneapolis. In an exclusive interview conducted in his Washington, DC office with the Daily Mail, the Vice President reinforced the administration's determination to pursue its immigration enforcement agenda without retreat.
Addressing Concerns Over Policy Retreat
The interview comes amid growing concerns among President Donald Trump's political base that recent developments might signal a softening of the administration's hardline stance. These fears emerged following the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minnesota, which triggered significant public outcry and protests.
In response to the escalating situation, President Trump deployed Border Czar Tom Homan to the Twin Cities, replacing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in overseeing operations. Homan subsequently indicated a willingness to reduce the number of enforcement officers as part of negotiations with Democratic Governor Tim Walz.
When questioned about whether Homan's statements suggested the White House was backing away from its deportation drive, Vance provided a definitive response: 'No it doesn't at all. We're not surrendering. We're not moving back on anything. We're just trying to actually encourage cooperation so that we get a little bit less chaos.'
Navigating Political and Public Opinion Challenges
Vance's comments highlight the delicate balancing act the Trump administration faces as it attempts to maintain its immigration enforcement policies ahead of crucial midterm elections. Recent polling conducted by JL Partners for the Daily Mail reveals significant public opposition to current enforcement methods.
The survey indicates that a majority of Americans now oppose Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection raids, believing their presence in US cities should cease entirely. Notably, even among Republican respondents, nearly one-fifth (19 percent) expressed agreement with this sentiment.
Progress in Local Cooperation and Future Enforcement
Despite these challenges, Vice President Vance pointed to emerging signs of cooperation from local authorities. He cited specific examples involving undocumented migrants charged with sex crimes who are scheduled for deportation upon release from county jail.
'Two weeks ago, the state authorities, the local authorities were saying, we're not even gonna let you know when this person gets out of prison,' Vance explained. 'Now they're saying they will let us know when that person gets out of prison, so that we can deport them and get them out of our country.'
The Vice President emphasized that such cooperation would not diminish the administration's determination to enforce immigration laws. 'That's the kind of cooperation we need to see more of. If we see more of it, I think the chaos will come down,' Vance stated before adding: 'We'll continue to enforce our immigration laws. There will be less violence on America's streets, which is ultimately the goal here, to keep people safe.'
Potential Military Deployment and Operational Changes
President Trump has previously raised the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807 to deploy military troops in Minnesota amid ongoing anti-ICE protests and civil disturbances. This historical legislation grants the President legal authority to deploy troops on American soil to suppress civil unrest, with its most recent application occurring during the 1992 Rodney King riots in Los Angeles under President George H.W. Bush.
When pressed by the Daily Mail about whether Trump's threat to send troops to Minnesota remained a viable option, Vance declined to provide specifics, stating: 'You're trying to get me to engage in a lot of hypotheticals ... Let's actually focus on reality and what's happening on the ground. What we're doing is trying to draw the chaos down.'
The Vice President did endorse recent operational changes in Minneapolis, including the new requirement for all federal agents to wear body cameras. Vance asserted that this measure would enhance transparency and provide additional protection for law enforcement personnel during operations.
Despite Homan's earlier statements about potentially reducing agent numbers, President Trump has recently signaled that immigration enforcement efforts in Minnesota will continue without reduction. The administration appears determined to maintain its deportation agenda while seeking to reduce operational friction with local authorities.
