Sister Nancy Sylvester challenges JD Vance on immigration

Sister Nancy Sylvester, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, questioned Vice President JD Vance regarding immigration enforcement tactics during a town hall event in suburban Detroit on Oct. 15. The event was broadcast on CBS News on Oct. 17.

Sister Sylvester, who is based in Monroe, Michigan, told Vance that sisters in her order minister at the southern border and in Detroit, where they witness the effects of immigration policies on families. She specifically noted the trauma of children separated from parents and asked how the behavior of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers could be justified to people of faith following the Gospel.

Vance, who is Catholic, responded by stating that the federal government attempts to strike a balance between law enforcement and humane treatment. He noted that with approximately 25 million undocumented immigrants entering the country over the last 30 years, many without vetting, the government must balance enforcement without being so lax that it empowers dangerous individuals. Vance told Sister Sylvester he would pray for her and said he would include her in his prayers.