Fact-checking Tim Walz and JD Vance during VP debate in New York City

PHOENIX (AZFamily) —Tim Walz and JD Vance are meeting for their first and possibly only vice presidential debate hosted by CBS News.

Arizona’s Family Investigates is fact-checking claims by both candidates in real-time as part of our commitment to keep politicians accountable before, during and after the 2024 General Election.

Claim: Iran is closer to building nuclear weapons because of Trump

Fact-Check: Needs Context

In 2018, then-President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the nuclear agreement with Iran which had been previously negotiated by the Obama administration and included Germany, France, and Britain in the deal.

However, the Biden/Harris administration has not reinstated the deal.

As mentioned during the debate, Trump has signaled that he is open to talks with Iran. When speaking to reporters in September, Trump said: “We have to make a deal, because the consequences are impossible. We have to make a deal.”

Claim: Walz blames $8 trillion increase in national debt because of Trump

Fact-Check: Misleading

According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a top watchdog group, the Trump administration added $8.4 trillion to the national debt over a 10-year budget window.

A breakdown shows $2.5 trillion came from the tax cut laws, $3.6 trillion came from COVID relief laws and executive orders, and $2.3 trillion came from spending increases.

It’s also important to note that President Joe Biden is projected to pass Trump’s total by the time he leaves office in January 2025. Biden’s one-term total is on pace to reach $8.1 trillion, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Claim: There are 20-25 million illegal immigrants in the US

Fact-Check: False

According to the Pew Research Center, there is an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the country based on 2022. Data analysis from the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute estimated a similar number in 2019 based on US Census Data

Latest data from CBP shows that agents have encountered people trying to illegally cross the border around 10 million times. One person can attempt to cross multiple times.

However, as Politifact’s Maria Ramirez Uribe notes about 3.9 million people have been released into the US to await immigration court hearings under Biden’s administration

This story is being updated minute-by-minute. Check back for updates.

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