Vice President J.D. Vance reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to removing criminal migrants from U.S. streets, emphasizing a goal of deporting nearly 2,000 per day. In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Vance stated that tackling illegal immigration is a top priority for the White House, arguing that restoring law and order begins with enforcing the nation’s immigration laws.
“We’ve got 20-plus million illegal aliens in this country,” Vance said. “We have got to get these people out of our country and regain control of our own border.” He emphasized that the administration’s focus is on criminals who pose a direct threat to public safety, ensuring that American communities are protected from repeat offenders.
The administration’s plan includes ramping up Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, coordinating with local law enforcement, and deploying additional federal resources to accelerate deportations. Vance noted that state and local officials have been encouraged to fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities, a direct challenge to sanctuary city policies that have hindered deportations in recent years.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized the previous administration for allowing criminal migrants to remain in the U.S., promising a more aggressive crackdown. Under new executive orders, ICE has been instructed to prioritize the removal of those with violent criminal records, gang affiliations, and outstanding deportation orders.
Vance also called out critics who claim the administration’s immigration policies are too strict, arguing that the American people overwhelmingly support law enforcement’s efforts to remove dangerous individuals from the country. “This isn’t about politics—it’s about public safety,” he said. “We are making sure that criminals who should never have been here in the first place are swiftly deported.”
The administration’s immigration enforcement policies have drawn sharp criticism from Democrat leaders and immigration advocacy groups, who argue that mass deportations will lead to widespread family separations and potential due process violations. However, Vance and other officials insist that only individuals who have committed crimes or ignored lawful deportation orders are being targeted.
With border security and immigration reform remaining at the forefront of national debate, the White House has made clear that it will continue pushing aggressive policies to remove criminal migrants and deter illegal crossings. The administration’s goal of 2,000 deportations per day represents a significant escalation in enforcement compared to prior years.
