Vice President Kamala Harris is set to visit the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona on Friday in an effort by her administration to bolster its stance on immigration. Two sources with knowledge of the trip disclosed this information on Wednesday, choosing to remain anonymous as the details had not yet been publicly announced.
Former President Donald Trump has consistently criticized Harris on immigration policies, advocating for stricter border controls including mass deportations with the help of law enforcement and the military. Trump has repeatedly mocked Harris as the “border czar” during his campaign rallies, accusing her of implementing lenient immigration policies that enabled a large number of individuals to enter the country illegally.
President Joe Biden assigned Harris to address the root causes of the immigration surge, particularly the influx of individuals seeking asylum from violence and criminal organizations in Central America. Despite not holding the official title of “border czar,” Harris has emphasized her previous experience as California’s attorney general, where she combated drug and human trafficking organizations along the border.
Throughout her campaign efforts, Harris has advocated for a more comprehensive and humane approach to immigration, contrasting Trump’s politicization of the issue with a commitment to finding practical solutions. She has also criticized top Republicans for rejecting a bipartisan immigration package earlier in the year, a move that Trump opposed.
As part of the administration’s strategy to address border challenges, the Biden administration temporarily halted asylum processing, leading to a significant decrease in illegal border crossings in recent months. Harris’s upcoming visit to the border serves as a significant step in the administration’s immigration policy, showcasing a commitment to addressing the complexities of border security and migration.