Vance criticizes Harris for focusing on labeling Springfield, Ohio, residents as "racist" rather than addressing her open border policy.

Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance accused Vice President Kamala Harris of prioritizing labeling Springfield, Ohio, residents as "racist" over addressing the open border issue. During interviews on CNN, NBC, and CBS Sunday morning shows, Vance was questioned about the recent controversy in Springfield, where residents have reported an increase in crime, chaos, and car accidents due to the influx of approximately 20,000 Haitian immigrants since the COVID-19 pandemic into a small town of about 58,000 people.

Unverified allegations that Haitians are killing and eating ducks and geese in parks, as well as pet cats and dogs, have been made by residents at city council meetings. These claims have been referenced on social media by Vance and repeated during the Philadelphia presidential debate last week by former President Trump.

""Kamala Harris' open border policy has resulted in skyrocketing housing costs, rising rates of crime, and communicable diseases in Springfield, despite the American media's lack of interest in the town until we started sharing cat memes on the Internet," Vance told NBC "Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker."

Officials in Springfield and Dayton, Ohio, claim there is no evidence of immigrants eating park animals or pets, and recent threats of violence have forced closures in Springfield. NBC host Welker also quoted Vance's past comments from 2016 accusing Trump of making "people I care about" afraid.

In Springfield this week, buildings were shut down due to bomb threats. Haitian immigrants express fear for their lives. Have you not been doing what you once condemned, Senator? Welker inquired.

"Vance stated that he condemns all acts of violence and threats of violence. However, he explained that his change of mind on Donald Trump was due to the media and the Kamala Harris campaign's treatment of the residents of Springfield. He pointed out that they have been calling the residents racist and lying about them, while completely ignoring the public health disaster that is currently happening in Springfield."

"Vance stated that Donald Trump is the only president who has brought Springfield to national attention and will fight for the residents' rights, not just their right to live safely in their communities, but also their right to complain about what's happening in their own community. In contrast, Kamala Harris has heard these complaints but has chosen to label people as racist instead of addressing the issue by undoing her open border policy."

""Kamala Harris is to blame for the influx of Haitian migrants in Springfield, not the migrants themselves," he stated."

The Harris campaign did not respond to Planet Chronicle Digital's request for comment.

On CNN's "State of the Union," Vance accused host Dana Bash of not adequately explaining how the Haitians in the United States had obtained legal status.

Vance stated that the migrants in the country are legally present through temporary protective status. However, he pointed out that this is not to say that they are legally in the country. Instead, he criticized Kamala Harris's amnesty policies that have led to the further opening of the border. In June, the Biden-Harris administration announced that about 300,000 Haitians already in the United States would be eligible for temporary legal status, allowing them to remain in the U.S. and work. This decision marks a significant expansion of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians who were in the United States on June 3 and will last until February 3, 2026. Anyone arriving after June 3 would not qualify. Additionally, DHS extended the Temporary Protected Status of an estimated 200,000 Haitians who already had it.

During an interview on "Face the Nation," Vance discussed the topic of temporary protected status when asked by host Margaret Brennan about his plans to secure federal assistance for Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.

Vance stated that the most crucial action to aid Gov. DeWine and Ohio, as well as the entire country, is to stop Kamala Harris' open border. For two years, he has advocated for policies that achieve this objective. He questioned why 20,000 Haitian migrants had been dropped into a small Ohio town in a short period, Margaret.

"The senator stated that Kamala Harris's implementation of temporary protective service for over 100,000 Haitian migrants granted amnesty to thousands of people who shouldn't have been in the country. This has led to a small Ohio town dealing with the consequences. The senator warned that if Kamala Harris's open border policies continue, every town and city in the country will experience the same consequences. The senator emphasized the need to stop this and protect American citizens from suffering due to Kamala Harris's actions."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.