 "Mic cut: Watch how heated Walz-Vance debate on immigration forced moderators to mute them")
Immigration, one of the key issues for the 2024 US Presidential elections, took a key share of the 90-minute Vice President debate on Tuesday between JD Vance and Tim Walz.
The discussion on the topic became intense with both the participants ending up clashing over immigration policy, forcing the CBS moderators to cut the microphone.
The interruption occurred after Vance ignored a question on economy and continued to speak over the moderators to rebut a fact check regarding his controversial remarks about Haitian immigrants in Ohio.
Walz also jumped in, forcing moderators to mute their mics and informing them that “no one watching could hear them.”
WOW: CBS News Cuts of J.D. Vance's Mic After He Started Refuting Their Fact-Check on Him
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) October 2, 2024
"Gentlemen, the audience can't hear you because your mics are cut. We have so much we want to get to. Thank you for explaining the legal process." pic.twitter.com/eUQCgbARdF
When the US immigration issue was debated on, Vance persistently criticised Vice President Kamala Harris, claiming that she effectively used a “magic wand” to grant legal status to thousands of Haitian migrants, including those in Springfield, Ohio.
The Republican Vice President nominee further argued that Harris implemented Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for these migrants, whom he continued calling “illegals” despite the program granting them legal status.
Vance went on to claim that this was an overreach of power, describing it as a form of “amnesty” that harms small communities like Springfield by overwhelming local resources.
Over the recent years, an estimated 15,000 Haitian migrants with legal, temporary protected status arrived in Springfield.
Walz, meanwhile, accused Vance and former President Donald Trump of dehumanising immigrants.
”I believe Senator Vance wants to solve this, but by standing with Donald Trump and not working together to find a solution, it becomes a talking point. When it becomes a talking point like this, we dehumanise and villainise other human beings," Walz said as he and Vance sparred over immigration policy.
Walz went on to highlight the bipartisan efforts in Congress aimed at drafting new legislation to enhance funding and security at the southern border, emphasising Trump’s opposition to the initiatives.
“Donald Trump said ‘No’ and told them to vote against it because it gives them a campaign issue,” Walz said.
Pointing out at Trump’s previous tenure, Walz spoke about former president’s unfulfilled promises regarding border security. “He promised you, America, how easy it would be: ‘I’ll build you a big beautiful wall and Mexico will pay for it.’ Less than 2 percent of that wall got built, and Mexico didn’t pay a dime,” Walz said.
The Democratic VP candidate also lamented that nearly nine years after Trump’s controversial campaign announcement, the nation remains at a standstill regarding meaningful immigration reform.
With inputs from agencies.
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