A cadre of speakers at the Democratic National Convention are set to address immigration policy and border security in an attempt to redefine what has been viewed as a political vulnerability for Democrats and Vice President Kamala Harris in this campaign cycle. The speakers, including Democratic lawmakers and the sheriff of a Texas county near the U.S.-Mexico border, will embrace a bipartisan border security deal that collapsed due to lack of GOP support. They plan to accuse former President Donald Trump of playing political games on immigration, highlighting his controversial campaign pledges regarding deportations and anti-immigrant rhetoric.
Among those addressing immigration at the convention are Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Rep. Tom Suozzi of New York, Javier Salazar, the sheriff of Bexar County in Texas, Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, and social media influencer Carlos Eduardo Espina. The Democrats are aiming to neutralize attacks on immigration, a defining issue for Republicans and Trump in the 2024 race. Trump has planned a visit near the Arizona-Mexico border to offer counter-programming to the DNC. Polls suggest that voters believe Trump is more likely to reduce migrant crossings at the border than Harris, who has been criticized for historic levels of border crossings even though she is not the “border czar.”
Harris has tried to change the perception of her stance on immigration by promising to revive the bipartisan border security agreement if elected and to push for an “earned” path to U.S. citizenship for long-standing undocumented immigrants. Border crossings have decreased in recent months, attributed to a June executive action by President Biden partially suspending asylum processing, the summer heat, and Mexico’s efforts to slow migration. Democrats have shifted to a tougher messaging around border security, reflected in the party platform adopted at the DNC, which now embraces limits on asylum and calls for strengthening requirements for asylum claims.
The 2024 platform represents a departure from the more progressive immigration stances of 2020, which aimed to protect and expand the existing asylum system and end Trump-era policies deemed “callous, cruel, and reckless.” The shift in messaging underscores Democrats’ efforts to coalesce around a tougher stance on immigration. Republicans have criticized Harris and the Biden administration for high levels of border crossings, branding her the “border czar” and highlighting her more liberal immigration stances during her 2020 presidential bid. However, Harris has tried to portray herself as a champion of border security on the campaign trail, promising to work towards bipartisan solutions and increase the ranks of Border Patrol agents.
Overall, the Democratic focus on immigration at the convention signals a renewed effort to address a contentious issue and counter Republican attacks on border security. The speakers are expected to emphasize the need for bipartisan solutions and highlight the failures of the Trump administration’s immigration policies. As the 2024 election approaches, the immigration debate is likely to remain a central issue for both parties, with Democrats advocating for a tougher stance on border security while promising comprehensive immigration reform if elected to office.
