Vice President Kamala Harris is set to unveil plans during her visit to Arizona that would further tighten border restrictions, making it more challenging to lift the current barriers preventing migrants from seeking asylum in the US. This move, as indicated by a senior campaign official, signals a firm stance on border security and aligns with the administration's commitment to enforcing stringent rules.
The proposed measures by Harris are anticipated to surpass President Joe Biden's previous executive action from June, which significantly limited the ability of migrants to seek asylum if they crossed the border unlawfully. This shift in policy has drawn criticism from some factions within the Democratic party and has been likened to strategies employed during the Trump administration.
Under Biden's executive action, restrictions on asylum seekers can be adjusted based on specific criteria, such as maintaining a daily average of fewer than 1,500 encounters between ports of entry. Despite facing backlash, Homeland Security officials have attributed the policy to a notable decrease in border crossings, reaching levels not seen since 2020.
By reinforcing border security measures and raising the threshold for lifting restrictions, the administration aims to address the ongoing challenges at the southern border while prioritizing national security interests. Harris's upcoming announcement in Arizona is expected to provide further clarity on the administration's approach to managing immigration and asylum policies.
