Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to visit Douglas, Arizona, on Friday, marking her first trip to the U.S.-Mexico border since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee.
During her visit, Harris will deliver a speech calling for stronger border security measures as part of her broader efforts to tackle border-related issues, according to a senior campaign official.
Harris intends to emphasize that maintaining American sovereignty requires the establishment and enforcement of clear border rules, highlighting the need for more resources for Border Patrol agents.
One of the central points of Harris’ remarks will be the fight against the influx of fentanyl, which she will identify as a “top priority” for her administration.
She plans to propose adding fentanyl detection machines at border entry points and will call on China to crack down on companies producing precursor chemicals used in fentanyl manufacturing.
While addressing border security and resource shortages, Harris will also advocate for a “safe, orderly, and humane” immigration system, as outlined by campaign officials who were granted anonymity to discuss her prepared remarks.
As Harris makes her case on border issues, the Biden administration is moving to solidify the asylum restrictions it imposed over the summer.
Two U.S. officials who spoke anonymously revealed that an upcoming amended proclamation is expected to extend the asylum restrictions, making it less likely they will be lifted soon. Officials have credited these measures for a significant decrease in illegal border crossings in recent months.
Harris’ visit to the border as the Democratic nominee comes as she seeks to close the gap with her opponent, former President Donald Trump, on border policy.
A recent CBS News poll found that 58% of likely voters consider the U.S.-Mexico border a major factor in their voting decisions, with 53% supporting Trump’s proposal to implement a national program aimed at finding and deporting undocumented immigrants in the U.S.
Democratic Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris (Photo: Kevin Lamarque)
Trump and other Republicans have long focused on the need for strict border security, frequently blaming Harris for the surge in illegal crossings during the Biden administration.
At a press conference in New York on Thursday, Trump criticized Harris’ visit to the border, telling reporters, “She should save her airfare.”
“She should go back to the White House and tell the president to close the border,” Trump added. “He can do it with just a signature on a piece of paper given to the Border Patrol.”
In response, Harris is expected to argue that Trump was responsible for blocking a bipartisan border bill that would have permanently enacted asylum restrictions and provided additional resources for border agents. Trump urged his congressional allies to reject the bill earlier this year.
“The American people deserve a president who cares more about border security than playing political games,” Harris plans to say, according to excerpts previewed by CBS News.
While Harris has continued to push for Congress to pass the border bill on the campaign trail, Trump dismissed the legislation on Thursday, calling it “atrocious.”
“It would allow people to come in here at levels that would be incredible and would allow them to get citizenship,” Trump told reporters. “It was not a border bill. It was an amnesty bill.”
The legislation, which failed to gain enough support from Senate Republicans earlier this year, also included provisions for executive authority to turn away migrants during spikes in illegal immigration and an expansion of legal immigration levels.
