Vice President Kamala Harris made her first visit to the Arizona-Mexico border since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee, focusing on the issue of asylum claims and border security. Harris emphasized the need for a system that is both secure and humane, rejecting the false choice between the two.
During her visit, Harris walked along the border fence, met with Border Patrol leaders, and received a briefing on combating drug trafficking and improving legal border crossings. She highlighted the challenges faced by Border Patrol agents and called for support for their work.
Harris also used the opportunity to challenge former President Donald Trump’s record on immigration, criticizing his failure to address the legal immigration system and shortage of border agents. She highlighted the bipartisan immigration reform package that collapsed earlier this year, blaming Trump for sabotaging it for political gain.
Harris outlined her plans to address illegal border crossings, including imposing more serious charges on repeat offenders and requiring asylum claims to be made at ports of entry. She also emphasized her past work as attorney general of California in prosecuting criminal organizations involved in drug and human trafficking.
The visit to Douglas, Arizona, brought immigration issues to the forefront less than six weeks before the election, with Trump pushing back against Harris and criticizing her credibility on border security. The town of Douglas, an overwhelmingly Democratic border town, is focused on improving legal border crossings and sees the need for upgrades to the local port of entry.
Overall, Harris’s visit aimed to bolster her stance on border security and immigration, addressing concerns and criticisms from her political opponents as the election approaches.
Source
Photo credit www.nbcconnecticut.com
