During her long-awaited visit to the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona, Kamala Harris emphasized her tough stance on immigration, aiming to counter Donald Trump’s accusation that Democrats are soft on immigration enforcement. Harris highlighted the importance of setting and enforcing rules at the border and emphasized the need to prioritize border security. Her message reflects a shift in the national mood towards tougher border controls, regardless of the party in power after the 2024 elections.
Harris, who previously took more left-leaning positions on immigration, now presents herself as a tough prosecutor with experience in dealing with transnational criminal organizations. She emphasized the need to reform the immigration system in an orderly and humane manner to make the country stronger. Harris aims to appeal to moderate voters by positioning herself as an aggressive enforcer of the law to keep migration under control.
The shifting politics around immigration will impact policy regardless of the election outcome. While Trump promises mass deportations, Harris proposes a balance between tougher enforcement and creating new legal pathways for immigrants to become Americans. Democrats’ hopes for granting permanent residency to millions of undocumented immigrants have faded, with Harris supporting pathways to legal status for at least some immigrants.
Harris’ campaign has not clarified her stance on normalizing the status of all 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. Key Democrats recognize the need for a rules-based immigration system before tackling the path to citizenship. Despite differences within the party, Democrats are focusing on border security as a priority issue, aiming to find bipartisan solutions to address the complex challenges at the border.
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