Vice President Kamala Harris is set to visit the US-Mexico border in Arizona on Friday, according to a source familiar with the discussions. The visit comes as Harris faces mounting criticism for her handling of immigration and attempts to counter former President Donald Trump’s lead on the issue.
Harris has been under fire for not prioritizing border security during her tenure as Vice President, despite previously visiting the border and touting her experience as a US senator and California Attorney General. Critics argue that these visits have done little to address the ongoing crisis.
Immigration has become a hot-button issue in the 2024 presidential race, with Republicans consistently highlighting the Democrats’ failure to secure the border. Earlier this year, Republicans blocked a bipartisan border measure, criticizing it as inadequate for solving the nation’s border problems.
Some Harris campaign officials are concerned about Trump’s polling advantage on immigration, seeing Friday’s visit as an attempt to narrow that gap. They are also trying to deflect GOP criticism that Harris has not done enough to address border security during her office.
The visit comes as new data shows border crossings at their lowest point since 2020. However, many attribute the decrease to recent policy changes by the Biden administration that restrict asylum access, which both parties have criticized. Meanwhile, Trump continues to call out the administration’s weak approach to securing the southern border.
Harris has been labeled the “border czar” by Republicans, a title she and her team have tried to distance themselves from since President Joe Biden assigned her the task of addressing the root causes of migration in 2021. GOP critics argue that Harris has failed in her role and has done little to curb the influx of illegal immigration.
Last week, Harris lashed out at Trump over his immigration policies, attempting to contrast her approach with what she called his “extremist” agenda. “While we fight to move our nation forward to a brighter future, Donald Trump and his extremist allies will keep trying to pull us backward,” she said, referencing Trump’s efforts to enforce immigration laws more strictly.
Harris warned of the potential impact of Trump’s proposed policies, including what she described as “massive raids” and “detention camps.” Republicans, however, argue that Trump’s focus on border security is precisely what the country needs to regain control over its immigration system.