Vice President Kamala Harris is set to visit the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona on Friday, as part of efforts to address immigration issues and counter criticism from former President Donald Trump. The trip, confirmed by sources familiar with the matter, comes as Trump has made immigration a central theme of his campaign, advocating for stricter border control measures.
President Joe Biden assigned Harris the task of addressing the root causes of immigration patterns that drive individuals from Central America to seek asylum at the U.S. border. Harris, drawing on her experience as a former attorney general of California, has emphasized her efforts to combat drug and people smuggling during her tenure.
Trump has repeatedly targeted Harris, labeling her as a 'border czar' and accusing her of overseeing lenient immigration policies. He has proposed aggressive tactics, including mass deportations carried out by law enforcement and the military, to curb illegal immigration.
Biden's administration implemented rules in June to restrict asylum for migrants when the southern border is deemed overwhelmed, resulting in a decline in illegal border crossings. However, a recent poll indicates that Trump holds an advantage over Harris in terms of public trust on immigration matters.
Despite ongoing challenges at the U.S.-Mexico border, Harris has positioned herself as a proponent of more compassionate immigration policies, contrasting with Trump's approach of politicizing the issue. She has criticized the failure of a bipartisan border security agreement in Congress, which was rejected by most Republican lawmakers at Trump's urging.
As Harris continues to engage with voters nationwide, she aims to leverage her stance on immigration as a key platform for garnering support. The issue of illegal immigration remains a significant concern for many Americans, particularly among Republican voters, according to recent polling data.
