Campaign officials are currently evaluating the possibility of a visit by Vice President Kamala Harris to the US-Mexico border during her upcoming trip to Arizona on Friday. This decision is part of the campaign's strategy to address the issue of immigration and narrow the gap with former President Donald Trump on this critical topic. The discussions are based on insights from two sources familiar with the matter.
Immigration has emerged as a key focus in the 2024 presidential election. Democrats have been working to shift the narrative on border issues, especially after a bipartisan border measure was blocked by the GOP earlier this year. The latest polling data indicates that Trump is currently leading on the immigration issue, prompting concerns among some Harris campaign officials. However, there is optimism about the potential to close this gap, as indicated by one of the sources.
It is important to note that no final decision has been reached regarding Vice President Harris's visit to the border, according to another source. The campaign has been approached for comment on this matter.
If the visit takes place on Friday in Arizona, it will coincide with a period when border crossings are at their lowest since 2020. This visit also follows recent polling results showing Trump in the lead in the battleground state.
US officials have highlighted consecutive months of reduced border crossings, attributing this trend to recent executive actions that have restricted asylum access at the US southern border. Despite these positive developments, Trump continues to criticize the Biden administration's approach to border security in his campaign messaging.