Vice President Harris Handles Migration Issues, Border Security, and Campaign Criticism in Visit to the Border
US Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris greets US Border Patrol during her visit to the Arizona border (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
With less than two months until the 2024 presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to the Arizona border near Nogales on Sept. 27, 2024. US Customs and Border Protection has reported high levels of migrant encounters in the region. Harris’ visit addresses criticism of her handling of border security and migration issues during her tenure as the Biden-Harris administration’s point person on migration.
Harris explains that to improve the situation at the border, the administration is determined to address the root causes of migration, such as economic instability and violence in Central and South America. She highlighted the United States’ substantial investment to alleviate economic hardships that drive migrants northward. Despite these efforts, critics of Harris and the Biden administration claim that migration numbers remain high, casting doubt on the effectiveness of the investment and her policies. Additionally, her opponents assert that Harris and the administration have not sufficiently secured the border, further fueling an already divisive issue in the election.
As the Harris campaign enters the final stretch of the race against three-time Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, her team must highlight fundamental differences between the two candidates. Harris’ visit to the border emphasized the current administration’s changes to Trump-era immigration policies. Former President Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy aimed to reduce asylum claims and deter migrants from reaching the border. The Biden administration has worked to reverse this policy, striving to streamline the migration process using an app that allows migrants to schedule appointments at ports of entry. Yet, the app and other Biden administration policies have faced criticism from both sides of the political aisle.
Blaine Bennett, the U.S. Border Patrol agent in charge at Douglas Station, Vice President Harris, and John Modlin, chief patrol agent for the Tucson Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, discuss challenges at the border. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Meanwhile, Republicans have made the impact of migration on crime and the job market central issues in their 2024 campaigns. During his presidency, former President Trump blocked a bipartisan immigration reform bill that could have addressed some of the current problems. Now, he uses these unresolved issues to rally his base in the lead-up to the election, promising to reinstate some of his previous border policies if re-elected.
Democrats and the Harris campaign are acutely aware that migration is a key point of criticism and could drastically impact the election if mishandled, especially in a crucial swing state like Arizona. They argue that long-term solutions, such as addressing the root causes of migration, are more effective than the punitive measures endorsed by Republicans. Harris’ visit reaffirmed the commitment of both the current administration and her potential future administration to broader, long-term strategies for tackling migration’s root causes, rather than the short-term, punitive solutions proposed by Republicans.
Harris’ visit to the US-Mexico border makes one thing clear: the complexity of the migration crisis continues to shape political discourse in the United States. As the 2024 election approaches, the Harris campaign must tread carefully and show voters that they are addressing immediate border security concerns. Harris’ visit confronted her critics head-on, but it will take time to see if this effort sways independent voters primarily concerned with the pressing impacts of migration. With just over a month until election day, both parties will likely continue to grapple with the complexities of border security and migration.