U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris emphasized the need for comprehensive reform of the American immigration system during a speech at Cochise College in Douglas, Arizona. She stated that the U.S. government must establish and enforce clear rules at the border to ensure a system that is orderly, humane, and ultimately strengthens the country.
Harris criticized former President Donald Trump for urging his Republican colleagues to reject a bipartisan immigration reform package, which experts claimed was the most robust legislation in decades. She highlighted the necessity of providing additional resources to U.S. Border Patrol and customs officers, expressing support for legislation that aimed to hire 1,500 new Border Patrol officers and purchase 100 fentanyl detection machines.
“This legislation would have enabled us to swiftly remove individuals who enter the country illegally and would have increased the number of immigration judges and asylum officers,” she explained. “It was the strongest border security bill we have seen in decades, endorsed by the Border Patrol union, and should be implemented now to yield immediate results. However, Donald Trump stopped it, preferring to run on problems instead of addressing them.”
Harris pledged to sign the same bill into law if it reaches her desk as president. She promised to work across party lines and embrace common-sense solutions and new technologies, drawing from her experience as the attorney general of California in combating transnational crime.
During her visit, Harris outlined plans to change asylum rules, proposing that individuals who cross borders unlawfully would be apprehended, removed, and barred from reentering for five years. She also advocated for stricter penalties against repeat offenders and emphasized the need for an orderly and secure immigration system.
Earlier that day, Harris visited a section of the U.S. border wall in Douglas, where she interacted with Border Patrol officers and received briefings on efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking. She reiterated her commitment to making the fight against this synthetic narcotic a top priority if elected president.
Harris's border visit comes as she seeks to counter Trump’s influence on immigration—a key issue in Arizona, a battleground state that shares a border with Mexico and faced a surge of asylum seekers last year. She pointed out Trump’s inaction during his presidency regarding the immigration system, stating, “He did not solve the shortage of immigration judges or create lawful pathways into our nation.”
Harris’s visit is part of her strategy to improve her standing on immigration, a crucial topic as she prepares for the upcoming election. She intends to focus on practical solutions, including a pathway to citizenship for “Dreamers” and long-term immigrants who have contributed to the U.S.
“Immigration and border security must be addressed with urgency,” she concluded, “and the American people deserve a president who prioritizes these issues over political games.”
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