Harris Promises Stricter Immigration and Fentanyl Controls at the Border, According to Reuters

By Trevor Hunnicutt

DOUGLAS, Arizona – Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris made her first visit to the U.S.-Mexico border as part of her 2024 presidential campaign on Friday. During her visit, she advocated for stricter asylum measures and emphasized her commitment to addressing the flow of fentanyl into the United States as a primary concern.

Speaking in Douglas, a small border town, Harris outlined her strategies for reforming the “broken immigration system” and criticized her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, for exacerbating fear and division regarding immigration’s effects on American society.

Since President Joe Biden took office, approximately 7 million migrants have been apprehended while attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, a significant increase that has drawn criticism aimed at Biden and Harris from Trump and other Republican figures.

Immigration is a critical issue for many voters, particularly in Arizona, a battleground state with a substantial Latino population. The ongoing challenges at the border continue to be a significant source of fentanyl, which has been a major contributor to drug overdose deaths in the U.S.

Harris called for tougher penalties for those who illegally cross the border and noted recent asylum restrictions implemented by the Biden administration that have decreased illegal crossings. She stated, “I will take further action to keep the border closed between ports of entry. Those who cross our borders unlawfully will be apprehended and removed and barred from re-entering for five years.”

The Vice President also expressed her ambition to develop a compassionate immigration policy, advocating for a pathway to citizenship for “Dreamers,” individuals brought to the U.S. illegally as children. Although Democrats have championed this issue for years, it has been overlooked in previous immigration-deal efforts backed by Biden.

“I reject the false choice that suggests we must either choose between securing our border or creating a system of immigration that is safe, orderly, and humane,” Harris stated. “We can and we must do both.”

During her visit, Harris met with Customs and Border Protection officials and examined part of the border barrier that was constructed during former President Obama’s administration. She received briefings on drug enforcement operations and inspected technology used to combat the illicit drug trade, specifically fentanyl, noting significant seizures at border entry points in recent years.

Theresa Guerrero, who lost her son Jacob to fentanyl poisoning, introduced Harris. She accused Trump of undermining a bipartisan border security bill that aimed to reduce fentanyl trafficking, a measure blocked by the Senate after Trump urged Republicans to reject it.

Harris asserted her intent to revive this legislation, which would enhance border security by adding personnel and resources to combat drug trafficking.

In addition to border security measures, she pledged to tackle the global fentanyl supply chain and emphasized the need for greater international cooperation, particularly with China, to combat the production of fentanyl precursor chemicals.

Fentanyl overdoses have risen sharply, becoming the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45, with over 107,000 overdose fatalities reported in the past year.

Harris aims to double funding for the prosecution of transnational criminal organizations and modernize screening and vetting processes in the U.S.

In recent weeks, Trump and his running mate have ramped up their rhetoric against immigrants, making false claims about immigrant crime rates and job theft. Trump specifically blamed Harris for the ongoing challenges of irregular migration during a speech at Trump Tower, questioning why she had not made substantial changes in the past four years.

Polling data indicates a significant divide among voters on immigration issues, with a recent poll showing 43% support for Trump and 33% for Harris.

Harris, who previously served as California’s attorney general, has focused on combating cross-border crime and trafficking throughout her career.

President Biden assigned Harris the role of addressing the root causes of migration from Central America, a task with mixed results. The influx of immigrants from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia has raised concerns among voters about its implications for the U.S. economy, crime rates, and cultural dynamics, as the population of foreign-born residents in the U.S. has increased significantly in recent years.