Campaign officials for Vice President Kamala Harris are considering a potential visit to the US-Mexico border while in Arizona on Friday in an effort to address concerns about polling numbers and to close the gap with former President Donald Trump on the issue of immigration. The 2024 presidential election has put a spotlight on immigration, with Democrats attempting to shift the narrative after a bipartisan border measure was blocked by Republicans earlier this year.
Despite some worries about the polling numbers showing Trump in the lead on the immigration issue, Harris’s campaign sees an opportunity to narrow the gap and counter GOP criticisms of her lack of visits to the border. Harris has previously visited the border as vice president and has highlighted her experience as a border state senator and attorney general. However, no final decision has been made yet regarding the potential visit.
The visit to Arizona also coincides with a decrease in border crossings, which are currently at their lowest levels since 2020. This comes as new polling data shows Trump leading in the battleground state. US officials have attributed the decline in border crossings to recent executive actions that have restricted asylum access at the southern border. Despite this, Trump continues to criticize the Biden administration’s handling of border security.
Republicans have inaccurately labeled Harris as the “border czar” and have sought to hold her solely responsible for managing the US-Mexico border. Harris’s team has been working to dispel this title since she was tasked by President Biden to address the root causes of migration in 2021. The campaign officials believe Harris has a strong stance on immigration, pointing to the failed bipartisan border measure to criticize Trump’s approach and highlighting her past experience as California’s attorney general in combating transnational criminal organizations.
Recently, Harris condemned Trump’s immigration proposals, drawing a clear distinction between her stance and her Republican opponent’s policies. She called out Trump for his controversial actions that resulted in family separations and his plans for mass deportations, questioning the feasibility and morality of such measures.
In conclusion, the potential visit by Vice President Kamala Harris to the US-Mexico border in Arizona reflects the campaign’s efforts to address concerns about polling numbers and to demonstrate her commitment to immigration issues. Despite the challenges posed by the border crisis and political attacks, Harris’s campaign remains focused on presenting a comprehensive and compassionate approach to immigration reform.
