Vice President Kamala Harris is reconsidering her long-standing opposition to the border wall, igniting debates on significant policy and political implications.
At a Glance
- Kamala Harris pledges to spend hundreds of millions on the southern border wall if elected president, despite previously opposing it.
- Harris is adopting a more hawkish immigration stance in response to attacks from Donald Trump’s campaign.
- Harris expressed support for a bipartisan border security bill that Trump opposed.
- Harris previously criticized the wall as a waste of money and ineffective.
- Harris’ shift on border policy reflects the influence of Trump’s impact on the immigration debate.
Harris’ Shift on Border Wall
Vice President Kamala Harris surprised many by pledging to allocate hundreds of millions of dollars toward constructing the southern border wall if she is elected president, upending her past criticisms of the wall. In the past, Harris labeled the border wall as “un-American” and “a medieval vanity project.”
In recent advertisements, Harris has positioned herself as an immigration hardliner, emphasizing her support for border wall construction and highlighting her alliance with Border Patrol agents. These efforts come amidst rising concerns over border security and the opioid crisis, presenting a notable shift from her previously held stances.
On behalf of the American people, I thank Joe Biden for his extraordinary leadership as President of the United States and for his decades of service to our country.
I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 21, 2024
Political Impact of Harris’ Evolving Stance
Harris’ new position echoes the intensified pressure from Donald Trump’s campaign, portraying her as the Biden administration’s “border czar.” President Joe Biden delegated Harris to address the surge in border crossings, which saw about 10 million illegal immigrant encounters nationwide under her tenure.
Previously, Harris concentrated on reducing migration by boosting private investment in Central America to create jobs and dissuade migration. While migration from the Northern Triangle decreased, surges from other nations prompted a border emergency.
I’m Kamala Harris, and I’m running for President of the United States. pic.twitter.com/6qAM32btjj
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 25, 2024
Policy and Legislative Considerations
Harris’ support for a bipartisan border security bill, which reallocates unspent funds for wall construction and includes provisions for asylum lawyers and judges, diverges from her previous critiques. Her advisors argue that the bill extends the timeline for using previously appropriated funds rather than allocating new money to the wall.
“It requires the Trump border wall,” Lankford told Axios. “It is in the bill itself that it sets the standards that were set during the Trump administration: Here’s where it will be built. Here’s how it has to be built, the height, the type, everything during the Trump construction.” – Lankford
The potential revival of a bipartisan immigration deal, initially thwarted in the Senate, signals Harris’ broader strategy to incorporate stricter immigration policies. The compromise, a mix between Biden’s administration and congressional Republicans, aimed to significantly curb illegal immigration.
Harris’ evolving stance showcases the turbulent influence of Trump’s longstanding rhetoric on immigration within the political spectrum. As Trump continues to impact the immigration debate, Harris’ policy realignment might resonate with voters prioritizing border security.
Sources
1. Harris flip-flops on building the border wall
