Vice President Kamala Harris is set to visit the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona on Friday as she seeks to counter former President Donald Trump’s advantage with voters on immigration issues. This marks her first trip to the southern border since becoming the Democratic nominee after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race.
According to sources briefed on the matter, Harris will address border security and immigration concerns during her visit. However, details regarding her itinerary and specific remarks have not been publicly confirmed. Harris’ campaign has yet to provide an official statement on the visit.
This visit comes as immigration continues to be a critical topic in the 2024 election. Republicans, including Trump, have criticized Harris’ handling of border issues, particularly during her time as vice president. In 2021, Biden tasked Harris with addressing the root causes of migration from Central America, a role that earned her the title of “border czar” from critics. Trump and his allies have repeatedly blamed her for the high number of migrants crossing into the U.S. in recent years.
Harris has defended her approach, advocating for both border security and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. She has highlighted her experience tackling transnational criminal groups as California’s attorney general. Recently, during a Congressional Hispanic Caucus event, Harris warned voters that if Trump is re-elected, his administration would pursue aggressive immigration enforcement tactics, including large-scale detentions and deportations.
Trump has kept immigration at the forefront of his campaign, claiming Harris’ trip to the border is purely for political reasons. He continues to press the issue, accusing the Biden-Harris administration of failing to secure the border.
With Arizona being a key battleground state, Harris’ trip comes at a critical time as she works to cut into Trump’s lead on immigration and present her own vision for border security and immigration reform. The visit will be closely watched by both parties as the race heats up ahead of the 2024 election.
