Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance refrained from ruling out the possibility of reinstating family separations, a controversial Trump-era policy, if he and Donald Trump return to the White House. This comes as the Department of Homeland Security continues efforts to reunite over 1,000 children with their families, a legacy of the previous administration’s immigration stance.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, Vance likened family separation to the consequences of prosecuting other criminal offenses. He argued, “If someone commits a crime and is jailed, that’s family separation too, and while it’s tragic for children, laws still need to be enforced.” He further criticized Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing her of failing to secure the border, which he views as the true cause of family separation.
The Trump campaign has prioritized border security in its platform, frequently attacking President Biden’s handling of the southern border, despite a drop in illegal crossings to the lowest levels of his presidency in June. In a town hall meeting earlier this year, Trump declined to commit to abandoning the family separation policy, suggesting that its harshness served as a deterrent for migrants. When asked about the practice during a CNN interview, Trump said, “We have to save our country,” hinting at the possible return of such measures.
During his recent border visit, Trump reiterated that provisions would be made but emphasized the need to remove criminals, framing his mass deportation plans as central to his campaign. The family separation policy implemented during his first term affected more than 5,000 families under the “zero-tolerance” initiative. Due to inadequate record-keeping by the administration, reunifying these families has proven challenging. As of this year, over 1,300 children still remain without confirmed reunification, according to DHS reports.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who opposes family separations, has vowed to revive a bipartisan border security bill that was blocked earlier this year, largely due to opposition from Trump and congressional Republicans. Though it was one of the strictest immigration bills in recent memory, the legislation did not include provisions for family separations. Harris has consistently voiced her opposition to the policy, describing it as punitive and lacking a humanitarian approach.
