Harris shifts to stricter border policies ahead of 2024: Axios
2 Min Read
Kamala Harris now boasts her experience as a former border-state prosecutor, claiming she would be more effective than Trump at securing the border while maintaining national sovereignty.
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Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, center, talks with John Modlin, the chief patrol agent for the Tucson Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, right, and Blaine Bennett, the U.S. Border Patrol Douglas Station border patrol agent in charge, as she visits the wall at the U.S. border with Mexico in Douglas, Arizona, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP)
Axios reported on Sunday that Vice President Kamala Harris has taken a notable shift in her stance on immigration policies, moving toward stricter border enforcement measures that resemble some of the policies championed by former President Donald Trump.
As the 2024 election looms, Harris has positioned herself as a tough advocate for border security, pledging to curtail asylum claims, prosecute illegal border crossings as felonies, and continue construction on the southern border wall.
This pivot in Harris' approach marks a significant departure from her previous stance as a "progressive" voice on immigration. Just a few years ago, she condemned policies like Trump's border wall and the criminalization of asylum seekers, particularly those fleeing violence.
However, in recent speeches and campaign advertisements, Harris now emphasizes her experience as a former border-state prosecutor, claiming she would be more effective than Trump at securing the border while maintaining national sovereignty.
Kamala (today): “The United States is a sovereign nation and I believe we have a duty to set rules at our border and enforce them."
— John LeFevre (@JohnLeFevre) September 28, 2024
Kamala (last month): “I will close immigration detention centers on day one.” pic.twitter.com/mTvYDZ3qvG
Immigration advocates on the left have expressed concern over Harris' election-year embrace of restrictive measures, arguing it may undermine her ability to push for pro-immigration reforms, including pathways to citizenship for undocumented populations such as DACA recipients and Temporary Protected Status holders.
Andrea Flores, a former Biden administration official, criticized the administration's toughened asylum rules, stating, "We don't have to choose between a functional asylum system and a secure border."
Despite the administration's attempts to create legal avenues for certain populations to enter the US, these programs have not provided permanent residency guarantees.
Harris has also avoided clarifying her current position on Biden's initial immigration reform proposal, leaving questions about her commitment to long-standing Democratic priorities like citizenship for "Dreamers."
Read more: Bus of migrants dropped off outside VP Kamala Harris' home
While Harris' approach now echoes some of Trump's policies, Axios notes that her vision does not extend as far as Trump's most radical proposals.
Trump has promised mass deportations, expanded detention facilities, and even military action against drug cartels in Mexico.
His rallying cry of "Send them back" has become a central theme in his campaign, marking a stark contrast to Harris' more moderate, though still restrictive, stance.
