Vice President Harris visited battleground Arizona on Friday to hold a campaign event along the U.S. southern border with Mexico. Harris is working to turn the issue of immigration and border security from a negative to a positive narrative as the Democrat presidential nominee. Harris has faced criticism from her Republican opponent, former President Trump, and his allies who argue she is weak on border security. She aims to show that she is better prepared than Trump to tackle the issue of immigration and what Republicans have labeled as a crisis at the southern border.
Harris is expected to speak about a bipartisan border security plan that she describes as one of the toughest in a generation. This plan includes new border agents and technologies to combat fentanyl trafficking. She believes that she has been more proactive on border security compared to Trump, who she claims “talks a big game” but does not follow through. Harris has accused Trump of sabotaging a bipartisan border security bill that was making progress in Congress. She has pledged to bring back this bill and restore bipartisan support for it once in office.
Since becoming the Democrat’s 2024 ticket leader, Harris has emphasized her experience as a former “border state prosecutor” who tackled criminal organizations involved in illegal drug, gun, and human trafficking across the border. Harris takes a tougher stance on border security while still advocating for a pathway to citizenship for some migrants. She was tasked by President Biden in 2021 to address the root causes of migration in Central American countries, leading to being called the “border czar” by some. Trump has criticized Harris, claiming her credibility regarding the border is “less than zero.”
Trump, in his bid to reclaim the presidency, has called for a crackdown at the U.S.-Mexico border and mass deportations of undocumented migrants. He has accused Harris of political motives for her visit to the border and claims the Biden-Harris administration’s policies have allowed millions of people to enter the U.S. illegally. Biden has implemented rules that bar migrants from receiving asylum when the border is overwhelmed, resulting in a decrease in arrests for illegal border crossings. Recent polls show that immigration and abortion are top concerns for American voters, with many believing Trump would handle the issue better than Harris.
In Arizona, one of the battleground states crucial for determining the election outcome, both Harris and Trump continue to emphasize their positions on border security and immigration. Harris seeks to convince voters she is well-equipped to address these issues, while Trump criticizes her and presents his own vision for border policy. The border visit by Harris serves as a significant moment in the campaign as both candidates vie for voters’ support on this prominent issue.
