JD Vance joked protester was here illegally. He says he was born and raised in NC

Vice President JD Vance’s rally in Hendersonville had gone almost entirely to plan.

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Vance took the stage on schedule Monday in front of a crowd of clamoring voters, walking out to the tune of a country song singing the praises of the “American life.” He pitched voters on GOP candidates competing in the state’s tightest races, backing Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley and House candidates Jennifer Balkcom and Laurie Buckhout weeks before the midterm elections.

He had just told the crowd that the three “warrior” Republicans would fight for “common sense” politics and reject Democratic initiatives.

That’s when 19-year-old Victor Quebrado Perez stood up.

“Common sense isn’t touching kids,” Quebrado Perez yelled, popping up in the stands right over the vice president’s left shoulder. “Release the Epstein files,” he continued as security swarmed in. “God bless our children.”

Vance turned to look back as Quebrado Perez was pulled from the stands, the crowd booing and chanting, “USA,” while security escorted him through a curtain behind the stage.

Turning back to the crowd, the vice president apologetically told voters he’d have to correct a statement he’d made earlier in his remarks.

“I said that we have had zero illegal border crossings in the United States,” he said as laughter broke out. “But one isn’t bad, right?”

It became a viral moment, attracting national attention on social media as some voiced outrage over the racist implication that Quebrado Perez — who said he was born and raised in Hendersonville — would be in the country illegally.

But it cuts deep for the 19-year-old. When Donald Trump first took office for a second term in 2025, Quebrado Perez and his then-15-year-old sister mobilized hundreds of people advocating for immigrants in Western North Carolina — including for their parents, who immigrated to the United States from Mexico more than 20 years ago.

Still, he told The News & Observer that the vice president’s false claim doesn’t offend him.

“Growing up being first-generation, you kinda grow up your whole life knowing that people are gonna say things about you and hearing people saying things about you, especially here in the South,” he said in a phone interview. “In a small rural town, you just live with it. You just kinda grow up.”

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A spokesperson for Vance didn’t return a request for comment from The N&O.

Quebrado Perez said he didn’t entirely plan the disruption. He’d attended the rally with his friends and knew that if he was given the chance to protest, he would. But sitting directly behind Vance was a coincidence, he said, after a campaign staffer approached the group of teens and asked if they wanted to sit behind the vice president. They agreed.

It took about 12 minutes of Vance’s speech before the 19-year-old decided to stand up, when he started feeling what he described as a familiar “burning” in his chest. It was a similar sensation to what he said he felt the day Trump was elected to his first term in office, Quebrado Perez said, sitting in class watching his Hispanic classmates cry because they were afraid of the deportation policies Trump had centered his campaign on.

“I wouldn’t call it anger, but it’s this passion, almost, that you just need to do something,” Quebrado Perez said.

Before he knew it, he was standing.

Quebrado Perez said he had aimed to amplify a message that could “connect” the crowd instead of sowing division. He chose to speak out on the Epstein files because he felt it should be a “bipartisan issue” keeping politicians across the aisle accountable. The Justice Department last year released millions of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, but lawmakers have continued to push for the disclosure of additional documents.

“I love this country,” Quebrado Perez said. “I’m speaking out not to cause division … but my intentions were good.”

After his disruption, Quebrado Perez said security ushered him through a curtain behind the stage, where they were stopped by the Secret Service. The agent informed the officer that it was Vance’s “secure area,” and Quebrado Perez would have to be kicked out through another exit.

That’s when the officer brought Quebrado Perez back through the crowd — almost appearing to have been taking a victory lap before bringing the 19-year-old out through the main entrance. Quebrado Perez was told he had trespassed and not to return.

But the Hendersonville native hopes his message still reached voters.

“I’m born and raised here in the southern part of North Carolina,” he said. “I grew up around these folks. I definitely don’t demonize Trump supporters or even the people who were at the rally.”

“I knew as soon as I stood up and said anything there would be disapproval regardless of what I said,” he added. “But I was hoping to say something that would help get rid of some of that division.”

This story was originally published October 21, 2026 at 5:30 AM with the headline “JD Vance joked protester was here illegally. He says he was born and raised in NC.”

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