NBC News attempted to corner JD Vance on the topic of “family separation” during an interview, aiming to undermine former President Trump’s immigration policies. However, the host, Kristen Welker, failed to address the significant number of migrant deaths that have occurred under President Biden’s administration due to lax border enforcement. These deaths have permanently separated thousands of families, as migrants perish during their dangerous journeys to the U.S. Despite these facts, Welker focused on pushing Vance to commit to not separating families during deportations, ignoring the tragic consequences of Biden’s border policies.

Vance countered by highlighting the disastrous impact of Vice President Kamala Harris’s border policies, which he claimed have led to countless migrant children being exploited by sex traffickers and drug cartels. He argued that strict border enforcement, as practiced under Trump, actually reduced family separations compared to the current administration’s approach.

Welker, after the interview, noted that the Trump administration had separated over 5,500 families under its zero-tolerance policy, but even with a smaller number of separations today, the harm from Biden’s policies—resulting in thousands of migrant deaths—remains severe. These deaths, many occurring in treacherous environments or due to exploitation at U.S. worksites, underscore the lethal consequences of the current administration’s immigration approach.

Key statistics include a reported 4,000 migrant deaths since January 2021, as well as numerous tragic incidents involving young migrants killed in hazardous jobs or dangerous journeys. Critics argue that Biden’s “open border” rhetoric and policies have fueled these deadly outcomes, while the administration struggles to track and protect vulnerable migrant children who arrive at the border.