Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris has pledged to enforce stricter border security measures and reform America’s flawed immigration system, responding to frequent political attacks from her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, ahead of the November election.
During her visit to the U.S.-Mexico border in Douglas, Arizona, on Friday, Vice President Harris emphasized her commitment to border security while also advocating for a “pathway to citizenship” for undocumented immigrants already residing in the country.
“As President, I will collaborate with Congress to finally establish a pathway to citizenship for the hardworking immigrants who have been contributing to our nation for years,” Harris stated.
Harris visited Arizona to gain a direct understanding of the security situation at the southern border. Criticizing former President Trump, she noted that politicians have continuously failed to come together to address the nation’s broken immigration system.
Concerns over illegal immigration have grown in recent years, driven by record-high migrant crossings at the southern border. Harris acknowledged the significance of these concerns, pledging to prioritize solutions over political maneuvering.
“As President, I will set aside politics to fix our immigration system and address issues that have been left unresolved for far too long. These challenges have serious implications for our country,” she said.
Harris, 59, is set to face Trump, 78, in the November 5 presidential election. She underscored the stark contrast in this election, positioning it as a choice between practical solutions and the continuation of political posturing.
“In his four years as President, Donald Trump failed to fix our immigration system. He did not address the shortage of immigration judges or border agents, nor did he create lawful pathways for entry into our country. He neglected to reform our outdated asylum system and failed to collaborate with governments in the region to tackle what is clearly a hemispheric issue,” she asserted.
Harris accused Trump of focusing on political gains rather than resolving the problem. “The American people deserve a President who is more concerned about border security than political grandstanding,” she said.
Drawing on her experience as a former Attorney General of a border state, Harris stressed her understanding of the importance of security and law enforcement at the border, including prosecuting transnational criminal organizations involved in trafficking guns, drugs, and people.
She also laid out her plan to “disrupt the global fentanyl supply chain,” aiming to “significantly reduce the flow of precursor chemicals from China” to protect Americans from the “unimaginable devastation” fentanyl has caused.
“On behalf of communities across the country who want real solutions, I say: We cannot tolerate Donald Trump’s failure to lead. We should not allow scapegoating in place of solutions or rhetoric in place of results,” she concluded.
Earlier in the day, Trump criticized Harris for neglecting the border during her tenure as Vice President, claiming her visit was poorly timed.
“This is bad timing for Kamala to visit the border today. She ignored it for four years and now she shows up,” Trump remarked.
Trump further accused Harris of betraying her oath, blaming her for allowing violence and crime to proliferate.
“Kamala Harris has let our cities fall to violent gangs. She allowed our sons and daughters to be harmed by ruthless criminals. She let American communities be overtaken by chaos. Just look at Aurora, Colorado, where armed gangs are seizing control of neighborhoods. Kamala has turned once-thriving towns into devastated refugee camps,” he said.
“What Kamala Harris has done is unforgivable. It’s criminal. There is no greater betrayal than to undermine the sovereignty of your own nation, and that’s exactly what she’s done. She’s destroyed our country,” Trump charged.
