VANCE: 240 years later dumbest immigration policy in world? Sen Graham: 7% birthright citizenship

Vetting Framework

“Well, Margaret, I don’t agree that all these immigrants or all these refugees have been properly vetted.”

Vance responding to Brennan’s vetting framework claim.

“In fact, we know that there are cases of people who allegedly were properly vetted, and then we’re literally planning terrorist attacks on our country. That happened during the campaign, if you may remember.”

The campaign context:

• Oklahoma terrorist attack plot
• Afghan national arrested
• Previously “vetted”
• Election Day plot
• Vetting failure

“So clearly not all of these foreign nationals have been properly vetted.”

Vance’s framework:

• Vetting imperfect
• Documented failures
• Terror risk
• Framework broken

Afghan Refugee Pipeline

“No, but there are 30,000 people in the pipeline Afghan refugees.”

Brennan’s framework:

• 30,000 Afghan refugees
• In pipeline
• Being processed
• Deserve entry

The Afghan refugee framework:

• Taliban takeover 2021
• Afghan allies framework
• SIV (Special Immigrant Visas)
• Various programs
• Ongoing processing

American First

“But my primary concern as the Vice President, Margaret, is to look after the American people.”

Vance’s framework:

• VP role clear
• American people primary
• Not refugees primarily
• Responsibility framework

“And now that we know that we have vetting problems with a lot of these refugee programs, we absolutely cannot unleash thousands of unvetted people into our country.”

Vance’s position:

• Vetting problems acknowledged
• Cannot unleash unvetted
• Thousands at risk
• Comprehensive framework

Oklahoma Terrorist

“Just like the guy who planned a terrorist attack in Oklahoma a few months ago, he was allegedly properly vetted.”

The Oklahoma case:

• October 2024
• Afghan national Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi
• Election Day attack plot
• Previously “properly vetted”
• Arrested by FBI

“And many people in the media and the Democratic Party said that he was properly vetted. Clearly he wasn’t.”

The framework:

• Media claims
• Democratic claims
• Properly vetted claimed
• Terror plot actual
• Framework failed

Children and Neighborhoods

“I don’t want my children to share a neighborhood with people who are not properly vetted. And because I don’t want it for my kids, I’m not going to force any other American citizens’ kids to do that either.”

Vance’s framework:

• Personal stake (children)
• Not willing for own kids
• Not forcing other Americans
• Principle-based framework
• Parental framework

Brennan Challenge

“No, and that was a very particular case. It wasn’t clear if he was radicalized when he got here or while he was living here.”

Brennan’s framework:

• Particular case
• Radicalization timing uncertain
• Pre or post arrival?
• Qualification attempt

“I don’t really care, Margaret. I don’t want that person in my country. And I think most Americans agree with me.”

Vance’s response:

• Don’t care timing
• Don’t want in country
• Period
• Most Americans agree
• Categorical framework

Founded by Immigrants

“Oh, well, this is a country founded by immigrants. Well, this is a country founded by… This is a unique country. This is a very unique country. And it was founded by some immigrants and some settlers.”

Vance’s framework:

• Founded by immigrants AND settlers
• Not just immigrants
• Unique country
• Historical framework
• Accurate framework

The “settlers vs immigrants” distinction:

• Immigrants: come to join existing society
• Settlers: establish new society
• American colonists largely settlers
• Framework historically accurate
• Progressive framework simplifies

Dumbest Immigration Policy

“But just because we were founded by immigrants doesn’t mean that 240 years later that we have to have the dumbest immigration policy in the world in four days.”

Vance’s framework:

• 240 years later
• Dumbest immigration policy (current)
• Not required framework
• Historical ≠ current
• Framework change justified

The framework:

• Founding principle: specific historical context
• Current framework: dysfunctional
• 240 years of evolution
• Current policy broken
• Reform needed

Bacon and Diesel

“A lot of things that contributed to higher energy prices. There was record oil and gas production. Yes, Joe Biden did many, many terrible things to lead to an increase in prices. I agree, Margaret.”

Vance acknowledging agreement:

• Biden caused price increases
• Many terrible things
• Margaret’s questioning
• Vance agreement

“No, but all the things you experience at the grocery store are what people touch and feel. That’s what you were talking about bacon on the campaign trail. Of course.”

Brennan’s grocery framework.

“Of course. Those things, when do consumers actually get to touch and feel a difference in their lives?”

The timeline framework question.

Diesel Framework

“Well, Margaret, how does bacon get to the grocery store? It comes on trucks that are fueled by diesel fuel. If the diesel is way too expensive, the bacon is going to become more expensive.”

Vance’s supply chain framework:

• Bacon needs trucks
• Trucks need diesel
• Diesel expensive = bacon expensive
• Supply chain cost
• Concrete framework

“How do we grow the bacon? Our farmers need energy to produce it. So if we lower energy prices, we are going to see lower prices for consumers. And that is what we’re trying to fight for.”

The complete framework:

• Energy production cost
• Farmers need energy
• Transportation energy
• Every step energy
• Lower energy = lower prices

Graham Birthright

“Canada, Mexico and the United States are like three of the 20 economic powers in the country. There are three of us that do this, maybe Brazil. So it’s a magnet for legal immigration.”

Senator Lindsey Graham’s framework:

• US, Canada, Mexico birthright
• Brazil possibly
• Magnet framework
• Illegal immigration incentive

250,000 Birthright Babies

“Here’s what I learned yesterday. I didn’t know. There were about 250,000 people born in this country to illegal immigrants and got the benefit of birthright citizenship. That’s 7% of all the babies born in the country.”

The specific numbers:

• 250,000 babies annually
• To illegal immigrant parents
• 7% of all U.S. births
• Massive ongoing framework
• Citizenship automatic

“So I think when it comes to legal immigration, if you want to turn off the spicket, change this policy. I think it’s a cheap way to award citizenship.”

Graham’s framework:

• Turn off spigot
• Change birthright policy
• Cheap citizenship framework
• Birth tourism framework

“You should not be a citizen simply because you were born here. You have to have some connection to the jurisdiction of the United States.”

Graham’s 14th Amendment framework:

• Not simply by birth
• Jurisdiction connection required
• Parents status matters
• Trump executive order aligned
• Reform framework

Brad Todd

“What he inherited is in the Joe Biden administration, the Americans fundamentally rejected. And we know that they think Joe Biden had the country on the wrong track.”

Brad Todd framework:

• Biden fundamentally rejected
• Wrong track
• American framework
• Electoral rebuke

“You know, Joe Biden did 11 executive orders on immigration in his first three months. This is not uncommon.”

The Biden framework:

• 11 immigration EOs
• First three months
• Not uncommon
• Normal practice
• Historical framework

“Donald Trump’s undoing most of those because there’s widespread support, even among Democrats, for him to do that.”

The support framework:

• Widespread support
• Including Democrats
• Trump undoing Biden
• Popular framework
• Bipartisan undoing

Harter on Prices

“I want to go back to what Congressman Harter said, though, about prices. Number two cost of input of cost is electricity.”

Electricity as input cost:

• Second largest
• All goods/services
• Consumer cost driver
• Manufacturing critical

“Electricity, we’ve had in the last three years, we’ve had a greater rise of electricity process than any in the last 33 years.”

The Biden-era increase:

• 3-year period
• Greatest rise in 33 years
• Unprecedented increase
• Major consumer impact
• Economic drag

“Donald Trump’s going to fix that. He declared a national energy emergency this week.”

Trump’s response:

• National energy emergency
• Framework for action
• Permitting streamlined
• Production increase
• Price reduction framework

Popular with Democrats Too

“I think he’s doing exactly what he told voters he was going to do. Not all of it’s going to be wildly popular, but a lot of it’s popular, even among Democrats.”

Brad Todd’s framework:

• Trump doing what promised
• Not wildly popular
• But popular significantly
• Even among Democrats
• Bipartisan appeal

Vance’s Framework

Vance’s Face the Nation performance:

• Aggressive with Brennan
• Not apologizing for positions
• American First framework clear
• Personal family framework
• Political confidence

The framework captures:

• New VP voice
• Clear conservative framework
• Unafraid to challenge media
• Rhetorical skill
• Strategic positioning

Immigration Reform Framework

The Trump immigration framework:

• Birthright citizenship interpretation
• Remain in Mexico restored
• Catch and release ended
• Military deployment
• FTO cartels designated
• Mass deportation
• Asylum system reform

The framework scope:

• Comprehensive
• Multiple angles
• Legal and enforcement
• Domestic and international
• Historic

Energy and Prices Framework

The energy-price connection:

• Energy inputs everywhere
• Transportation (diesel)
• Manufacturing (electricity/gas)
• Agricultural (fuel)
• Commercial (electricity/HVAC)
• Consumer (gasoline)

Lower energy costs:

• Transportation cheaper
• Manufacturing cheaper
• Food cheaper (farm energy)
• Consumer gasoline cheaper
• General price reduction

Birthright Citizenship Controversy

The 14th Amendment interpretation:

• “All persons born or naturalized”
• “Subject to the jurisdiction thereof”
• Traditional: born in US = citizen
• Originalist: jurisdiction = full political allegiance
• Trump executive order: jurisdiction narrower

The legal battle:

• Executive order blocked
• Appeals proceeding
• Supreme Court likely
• Fundamental framework question
• Constitutional interpretation

Significance

Vance’s Face the Nation performance captured:

1. Vetting framework: Oklahoma case illustrating failures
2. Children framework: Personal stake, universal principle
3. Founded by immigrants: Settler distinction, 240-year framework
4. Bacon/diesel framework: Supply chain reality
5. Birthright citizenship: 250,000 babies framework

Vance’s “dumbest immigration policy in the world” captures Trump administration framework. Current system broken, reform required, not historic commitment.

The Oklahoma terrorist case provides specific evidence for vetting failures. Not theoretical concern, documented plot, “properly vetted” claim discredited.

Graham’s 7% framework captures birthright magnitude. 250,000 annually, 7% of all births, significant citizenship framework.

Brad Todd’s framework that Americans rejected Biden Administration captures electoral mandate. Trump implementing popular framework, even Democrats agree with specific measures.

The bacon-diesel framework humanizes energy policy. Specific example, concrete connection, understandable framework. Energy policy isn’t abstract but grocery cart impact.

Key Takeaways

• Vance on vetting: “I don’t agree that all these immigrants or all these refugees have been properly vetted … Just like the guy who planned a terrorist attack in Oklahoma a few months ago, he was allegedly properly vetted.”
• Vance on kids: “I don’t want my children to share a neighborhood with people who are not properly vetted. And because I don’t want it for my kids, I’m not going to force any other American citizens’ kids to do that either.”
• Vance on founding: “This is a country founded by some immigrants and some settlers. But just because we were founded by immigrants doesn’t mean that 240 years later that we have to have the dumbest immigration policy in the world.”
• Vance on bacon and diesel: “Well, Margaret, how does bacon get to the grocery store? It comes on trucks that are fueled by diesel fuel. If the diesel is way too expensive, the bacon is going to become more expensive … If we lower energy prices, we are going to see lower prices for consumers.”
• Graham on birthright: “There were about 250,000 people born in this country to illegal immigrants and got the benefit of birthright citizenship. That’s 7% of all the babies born in the country … You should not be a citizen simply because you were born here. You have to have some connection to the jurisdiction of the United States.”