A resurfaced speech by Vice President Kamala Harris has sparked controversy and drawn criticism from a victim of violent crime.
Fox News reported that Amanda Kiefer, who was assaulted by an illegal immigrant released under a program initiated by then-San Francisco District Attorney Harris, has expressed her disappointment with Harris's characterization of the incident.
The program, known as "Back on Track," allowed non-violent offenders to avoid jail time in favor of job training and potential record expungement.
In 2008, Kiefer suffered a fractured skull when Alexander Izaguirre, a 20-year-old illegal immigrant who had been released through Harris's program, attacked her on a San Francisco street. Izaguirre had been arrested on drug charges months earlier but was free at the time of the assault.
During a 2010 Women in Leadership conference at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business, Harris discussed the "Back on Track" program and the incident involving Kiefer. In her speech, Harris referred to the situation as a "glitch" in the system:
But whenever you're rolling out something new, there will at some point become apparent that there is a mistake or a glitch in the design, and when you're in these kinds of positions, that mistake or glitch is on the front page of the paper.
Harris went on to describe the political fallout from the incident, acknowledging that she "took a big political hit" when the program's shortcomings came to light.
Kiefer, responding to the resurfaced speech, expressed her frustration with Harris's terminology and the broader implications of the program:
That 'glitch' certainly had a negative impact on my life. It would be easier to believe it was a mistake if Democrats in San Francisco didn't have a long history of enabling illegal immigration, choosing not to prosecute illegal immigrant criminals and refusal to deport anyone.
Kiefer further criticized the current administration's immigration policies, suggesting that the issues extend beyond mere incompetence and reflect intentional choices.
The controversy surrounding Harris's past program and her recent comments come amid ongoing debates about immigration policy in the United States. Critics argue that policies like "Back on Track" prioritize leniency for offenders over public safety, while supporters maintain that such programs offer necessary alternatives to incarceration.
In 2009, Harris addressed the press regarding Izaguirre's case, stating that he would be prosecuted and deported with her "full encouragement and support." She also acknowledged at the time that his release was a "flaw in the design" of the program, which she claimed had been addressed.
For Kiefer, the attack served as a turning point in her political views. She has described the experience as a "red pill moment," leading her to abandon her previously liberal stance and embrace more conservative policies and candidates, including former President Donald Trump.
Earlier this year, Kiefer appeared alongside Trump during his visit to the Arizona border, where she shared her story alongside other victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants. She has been vocal about her concerns regarding safety under the current administration, stating, "I moved out of San Francisco because I didn't feel safe there and I don't think our country is going to be safe under Kamala Harris."
The resurfaced speech and subsequent criticism highlight the ongoing challenges faced by the Biden-Harris administration in addressing immigration issues. The incident underscores the complexities of implementing criminal justice reforms while maintaining public safety and managing immigration policies. As debates continue, the personal stories of individuals affected by these policies remain at the forefront of public discourse on immigration and crime.
