During a rally in a Phoenix suburb on Friday night, Vice President Kamala Harris made immigration a central theme of her speech, marking a shift from her recent rallies in Michigan and Wisconsin where the topic was not addressed.
Addressing the enthusiastic crowd, Harris emphasized, “We will advance and tackle the nation’s most pressing issues, immigration.” She drew from her experience as a former attorney general in a border state, highlighting her efforts to combat transnational gangs, drug cartels, and human traffickers, asserting her success in these prosecutions.
Vice President Kamala Harris addresses crowd of 15,000, discussing her experience in combating transnational crime
Harris reiterated her commitment to border security and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, sharply criticizing former President Donald Trump for his perceived inaction. She claimed Trump prioritized electoral gains over substantial border reforms, stating, “Donald Trump did not want to resolve this issue. Earlier this year, he sabotaged a bipartisan border security bill because he believed it would benefit his election prospects.”
The vice president pointed out the flaws in the current immigration system and offered solutions, speaking to a crowd her campaign estimated at 15,000.
The Trump campaign has intensified its scrutiny of Harris’s role in immigration since she became a leading figure in the Democratic ticket. Harris, who was assigned to address migration from the Northern Triangle countries in 2021, has faced criticism from Republicans for her perceived shortcomings in border security.
In response to Harris and Tim Walz’s visit, Trump’s campaign criticized her for not visiting the actual border, with Halee Dobbins from the Republican National Committee accusing Harris of being “dangerously liberal” and suggesting she should have toured the southern border.
As both campaigns vie for votes in Arizona, a state Biden narrowly won in 2020, immigration remains a key battleground issue. Recent voter registration data indicates a slight decline in the Democratic electorate in the state.
Before Harris and Walz’s event, Senator Mark Kelly, a former astronaut, and naval aviator, endorsed Walz, defending his military service despite Republican criticism. Kelly praised Walz’s dedication to veterans and military families, a sentiment echoed by Democratic Representative Ruben Gallego, who criticized his Republican opponent while lauding Walz’s commitment to veterans.
