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Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday called for a dramatic reduction in legal immigration, telling students at the University of Mississippi that the United States must “get the overall numbers way, way down” to allow the country’s “own society to cohere.”
Speaking at an event organized by Turning Point USA, Vance said the U.S. has admitted too many immigrants in recent decades, a policy he argued has strained social unity and made assimilation harder.
“The optimal number is far less than what we’ve been accepting,” Vance said, when pressed by a student to name a specific target. “You’ve got to allow your own society to cohere a little bit, to build a sense of common identity, for all the newcomers — the ones who are going to stay — to assimilate into American culture.”
Vance’s remarks reflect a growing restrictionist shift within the Trump administration, which has sought to curb both illegal and legal immigration while increasing enforcement actions nationwide.
Defending Trump’s foreign and domestic policies
Vance also praised President Donald Trump’s Middle East diplomacy and the recent U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, describing them as part of a strategy to prevent “unnecessary foreign conflicts.”
He defended Trump’s use of the National Guard in Democratic-led cities, dismissing concerns that such actions could set a precedent for future presidents to use federal power against conservatives.
“We cannot be afraid to do something because the left might do it in the future,” Vance said. “The left is already going to do it regardless of whether we do it.”
Vance invoked Trump’s 2023 arrest under the Biden administration — tied to allegations of mishandling classified documents and subverting the 2020 election — as justification for Trump’s more aggressive use of executive power. The charges were dropped after Trump returned to office.
Erika Kirk’s emotional introduction
Vance was introduced by Erika Kirk, the widow of Turning Point USA’s slain founder Charlie Kirk, in one of her first public appearances since taking over leadership of the conservative youth organization.
“Being on campus right now, for me, is a spiritual reclaiming of territory,” she said, recalling her husband’s mission to move college campuses to the right.
Wearing a white “freedom” T-shirt identical to the one her husband wore when he was shot, Kirk urged young conservatives to stay strong in their faith and activism.
“If you’re worried about losing a friend — I lost my friend,” she said, her voice breaking. “I lost my best friend.”
The event drew hundreds of students and alumni, underscoring Turning Point’s continued influence on college campuses despite the loss of its founder.
