JD Vance, running mate of former President Donald Trump, will be in San Diego County on Friday.
While Vance's full itinerary for his visit is not yet known, he is scheduled to attend a luncheon fundraiser on Friday, Sept. 6, in Rancho Santa Fe.
The luncheon follows a Friday morning visit to the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego, a symbol in the country's ongoing discussion of immigration. While there, Vance insisted on reinstating a Donald Trump policy to deport someone from a country where communicable diseases are present.
"Re-implement Title 42, the Remain in Mexico Policy, it really worked ... re-implement deportations, you've got to be willing to send people back who come across that border illegally and ... end the asylum fraud," Vance said in response to a question regarding Trump's priorities should he be reelected.
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Title 42 was implemented under Trump during the COVID-19 pandemic and was used to block land entry for many immigrants. It was continued under President Joe Biden before ending in May 2023, with the end of the COVID national emergency.
The Orange County Republican Party sent an email out last month shortly after announcing the local fundraiser.
"Doctor Bob and June Shillman cordially invite you to a lunch with the next Vice President of the United States JD Vance," the invitation reads.
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Robert Shillman, aka "Doctor Bob" is a self-professed "Doctor of Philanthropy" according to a news release issued by UC San Diego in 2020 when he donated a million dollars for blood cancer research. Shillman, an electrical engineer by training, founded Cognex, a company that "designs, develops, manufactures, and markets a wide range of image-based products, which use artificial intelligence (AI) techniques that give them the human-like ability to make decisions on what they see."
Friday's fundraising luncheon carries a price tag, from a $1,000 donation for a person simply to attend, up to $15,000 for a photo op and lunch, all the way to $50,000 per couple as part of the "host committee" who will also attend a roundtable and get a photo opp and lunch.
By donating, guests will be "contributing to Trump 47 Committee, Inc., a joint fundraising committee authorized by Donald J. Trump for President 2024, Inc. (“Trump for President”); Save America; Republican National Committee (“RNC”); and the federal accounts of State Republican Parties in" all 50 states.
Later in the weekend, a reception will be held in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 8, with similar-size donations being sought.
Vance, a U.S. senator from Ohio introduced himself to the world in 2016 when he published his bestselling memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy." Trump selected Vance as his vice presidential pick in mid-August.
The candidate, who was in the news this weekend after he said Trump would veto a federal abortion ban if a bill were to be passed by Congress, is slated to face off with the Democratic vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz in a debate on Oct. 1.
This article originally stated that Vance would be in Rancho Sante Fe last week on Friday, but he is actually scheduled here for Sept. 6. Vance is scheduled for Sept. 8 for the LA fundraiser — Ed.
