Republican Sen. J.D. Vance made false claims about immigrants during the recent vice presidential debate, blaming them for rising housing costs unchecked. The CBS moderators did not fact-check Vance’s claims, while Democratic nominee Tim Walz pushed back, attributing the housing crisis to unregulated real estate practices instead.
Alia Trindle from Right to the City Action debunked Vance’s claims as baseless, emphasizing that tax cuts for the wealthy and policies favoring corporate landlords are the true culprits of the housing crisis. Bruna Sollod from United We Dream Action echoed the sentiment, blaming Republican economic ideologies for increasing rent and housing prices.
Journalists pointed out on social media that undocumented immigrants face disadvantages in home purchasing due to restrictions on federally backed mortgages. Economists warned that mass deportations, touted as a solution by Vance and former President Trump, would likely raise inflation and halt new housing construction.
Vance also faced criticism for racist attacks against Haitian immigrants and dodged questions about separating families. The focus should shift to addressing systemic issues instead of scapegoating immigrants for the housing crisis.