(Scypre.com) – Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to visit the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona, her first trip to the border since her 2021 visit to El Paso. The visit comes as Harris faces ongoing criticism from Republicans, including former President Trump and the Border Patrol Union, who claim she is weak on border security. The National Border Patrol Council released a statement condemning Harris’ efforts, accusing her of ignoring the border crisis for years and claiming the visit is only for show. “This is nothing more than for her to check the box,” the council said, emphasizing that her appearance at the border is “a slap in the face” to Border Patrol officers and the American public.
Harris’ team, however, points to her past as a prosecutor who worked to combat transnational criminal gangs. Her campaign has underscored her commitment to border security, highlighting her support for a bipartisan funding bill that aims to address the crisis.
Harris’ History on Immigration
Senate Tenure (2018-2019)
Harris’ record on immigration includes opposing the Trump administration’s request for more funding for Border Patrol and immigration detention beds in 2018. She urged her Senate colleagues to block Trump’s FY 19 funding request for what she described as an “ineffective border wall” and increased ICE personnel. Her hardline stance continued when she compared ICE’s actions to the Ku Klux Klan, questioning its intimidation tactics towards immigrants, especially those from Mexico and Central America.
She also participated in rallies where she chanted anti-deportation slogans and supported measures to protect California Dreamers. This included calls to limit deportations and create pathways to citizenship for illegal immigrants.
2019 Presidential Bid
During her 2019 presidential campaign, Harris advocated for an expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program by executive order. Her plan aimed to protect more than six million undocumented immigrants from deportation, offering paths to citizenship for parents of U.S. citizens and green card holders.
2021 Vice President Role: The “Border Czar”
Upon becoming vice president in 2021, Harris was tasked with addressing the root causes of migration, a role that garnered her the nickname “border czar” from media outlets and Republicans. The administration sought to reverse Trump-era immigration policies, which led to a surge in migrant numbers. Harris’ role involved focusing on diplomacy and working with Central American countries to curb migration rather than direct border security.
In a controversial 2021 statement, Harris told migrants, “Do not come. If you come to our border, you will be turned back.” This remark, though intended to deter illegal crossings, sparked backlash from immigration advocates.
2022: Addressing the Crisis
Despite continued border challenges, Harris was relatively absent from direct border-related issues in 2022, focusing on a private sector initiative to tackle root causes like poverty and violence. At the Summit of the Americas in June 2022, she announced a $3.2 billion investment from private companies to support economic growth in Central America. However, Harris faced renewed criticism after claiming the border was secure, even as the crisis worsened.
2023-2024: Continued Border Crisis
Record-high migrant encounters in 2023 put Harris and the Biden administration under intense scrutiny. Despite her ongoing efforts to secure private sector investment, fiscal year 2023 saw over 2.4 million migrant encounters. December alone recorded nearly 250,000 encounters. With Harris facing increased pressure to respond, her focus turned to bipartisan efforts in the Senate aimed at reducing migrant crossings and improving border security.
2024 Campaign Focus
As Harris campaigns for the presidency, her stop in Douglas, Arizona, is a strategic move to address border security concerns head-on. In a recent interview with MSNBC, she stated, “We need a comprehensive plan… to fortify not only our border but create pathways for people to earn citizenship.” Her campaign has launched new ads in Arizona, promoting her record of cracking down on cartels and drug traffickers while emphasizing her stance on border security.
The new ad campaign, paired with her Arizona visit, aims to portray Harris as a leader capable of handling the southern border crisis, which has become a central issue in the 2024 election.