The United States House of Representatives has passed a Republican-led resolution condemning Vice President Kamala Harris for her role in the Biden administration’s handling of migration.
Amid escalating scrutiny, Harris faces critiques of her record on illegal immigration from Donald Trump and other Republicans, as the November presidential election approaches, as the Guardian reports.
With President Joe Biden opting out of the presidential race, the focus has turned sharply on Harris, who many expect to be the Democratic nominee. Republicans are keen to portray Harris as insufficiently stringent on border security, a crucial issue for many voters.
At a recent rally in North Carolina, former President Donald Trump claimed Harris had neglected to visit the U.S.-Mexico border during her tenure as the so-called "border czar." He said, “She was the border czar, but she never went to the border.” However, this assertion is significantly misleading.
Harris claims her actual responsibility was to address the root causes of migration from Central America, particularly Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Whereas the Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was tasked with border policy, Harris says she focused on diplomatic efforts to tackle issues such as poverty and violence.
In June 2021, Harris did visit the border and was accompanied by Mayorkas. Despite Republicans’ characterizations, Harris argues that her mandate was never about direct border control but rather a broader diplomatic mission aimed at mitigating migration push factors. House Speaker Mike Johnson claimed Harris failed to address what he called a "worsening crisis" at the border, accusing her of neglect and laying the blame for rising illegal crossings at her feet.
A Gallup survey has indicated that, for the first time in many years, a majority of Americans now believe there should be less immigration into the United States. This shift in public opinion underscores the political stakes and potentially fuels partisan attacks.
In response to record levels of border encounters, Harris supported a bipartisan border security package. Despite her efforts, the package did not advance, largely due to opposition from Republican members of Congress, influenced by Trump's stance. To curb the influx, President Biden issued an executive order in June to temporarily suspend asylum requests between ports of entry. This measure led to a significant reduction in border crossings, achieving the lowest arrest numbers since he took office.
Harris’s history on immigration includes strong advocacy for immigrant rights, ongoing support for undocumented individuals who have lived in the U.S. for most of their lives, and aid for victims of severe crimes. As a senator, Harris was a fierce critic of the Trump administration's hardline border policies, and she consistently emphasized that undocumented immigrants should not be treated as criminals. “I know what a crime looks like, and I will tell you: an undocumented immigrant is not a criminal,” she stated during a senate hearing.
Analysts such as Theresa Cardinal Brown have noted that Harris was given a challenging and complicated assignment involving Central American nations, which cannot be resolved quickly or easily. Her efforts since May 2021 have led to $5.2 billion in private sector commitments aimed at improving conditions in those countries.
Despite her focused strategy, critics argue that Harris's efforts in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador may be insufficient amid rising migration from other nations like Venezuela and Cuba. Theresa Cardinal Brown also mentioned that people are fleeing crises globally, and this international context complicates the situation further.
Harris’s statement in Guatemala, "Do not come," was criticized as insensitive by some immigration advocates. Nevertheless, public opinion surveys suggest that certain segments of voters do not primarily associate her with immigration issues, despite attempts by Republicans to link her directly to the border crisis.
The Republican-led House resolution against Harris comes as she steps into a brighter spotlight with Biden's decision not to run for a second term. Attacks on her record, particularly around immigration, are intensifying from figures such as Trump. While Harris says her diplomatic mission targeted Central America’s root causes, her efforts have often been overshadowed by a broader, contentious debate on immigration.
Some critics argue she has not adequately addressed the nuances of a multifaceted crisis, yet others stress the inherent complexities of her mandate. With policies ranging from humanitarian aid to support for asylum seekers, Harris remains a polarizing yet influential figure in the immigration discourse.
