Harris Plans to Maintain Asylum Restrictions During Border Visit
Vice President Kamala Harris, during her visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, plans to announce her intention to uphold President Biden’s asylum restrictions and propose making it more challenging to lift these policies, coinciding with the Biden administration’s efforts to solidify such regulations. She will address fentanyl trafficking as a significant priority and advocate for increased resources for Border Patrol. Her remarks come amid ongoing political tensions with former President Donald Trump regarding border security.
During her visit to the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday, Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to announce her commitment to maintaining President Biden’s asylum restrictions, if elected to a subsequent term. A senior campaign official disclosed to CBS News that Harris plans to create stricter conditions for the suspension of these policies. The Biden administration aims to solidify the asylum restrictions implemented in June by modifying the criteria for their deactivation, which could be announced as soon as next week. The visit to Douglas, Arizona, marks Harris’s inaugural trip to the border following her designation as the Democratic presidential nominee. She will emphasize the need for enhanced border security and the requirement for additional resources for Border Patrol agents. A significant aspect of her address will focus on combating the influx of fentanyl, which she will categorize as a “top priority” for her presidency. Harris will propose the introduction of fentanyl detection machinery at border entry points and will urge the Chinese government to impose regulations on manufacturers producing precursor chemicals essential for fentanyl production. In conjunction with her call for improved border security and resource allocation, Harris will advocate for an immigration system that upholds principles of being “safe, orderly, and humane,” according to nameless campaign officials allowed to discuss the contents of her speech. As she positions herself on border policies, the Biden administration is on the verge of intensifying the asylum restrictions established over the summer to reduce illegal crossings, a measure credited with significantly decreasing such incidents in recent months. Harris’s border trip comes as she aims to gain an advantage over her opponent, former President Donald Trump, on border enforcement matters. A recent CBS News survey indicated that 58% of likely voters view the U.S.-Mexico border as a crucial issue influencing their voting decisions. Additionally, findings revealed that 53% of voters would support Trump’s initiative to locate and deport all undocumented immigrants. Trump and the Republican Party have consistently emphasized the necessity of robust border security, attributing the increase in illegal crossings during the Biden administration to Harris. During a press briefing, Trump criticized Harris’s visit, remarking, “She should save her airfare. She should go back to the White House and tell the president to close the border. He can do it with the signing of just a signature and a piece of paper to the border patrol.” In her response, Harris will assert that Trump contributed to the failure of a bipartisan border bill designed to implement enduring asylum restrictions while also mobilizing additional agents and resources at the border. She argues that this legislation, which Trump convinced his congressional allies to reject earlier this year, was imperative for effective border governance. Harris is set to convey, “The American people deserve a president who cares more about border security than playing political games.” Although Harris has been advocating for the passage of this bill during her campaign, Trump labeled it as “atrocious,” stating it would enable excessive immigration and result in citizenship for many. He contended that it represented not a border bill, but rather an amnesty proposal. The proposed legislation had previously failed to gain sufficient support from Senate Republicans in the spring, and included provisions for executive authority to deny entry to migrants during surges in illegal immigration, along with plans to escalate legal immigration levels.
The article discusses Vice President Kamala Harris’s intentions regarding border security and asylum policies in the context of her recent visit to the U.S.-Mexico border as she campaigns for re-election. The article highlights the Biden administration’s current approach to asylum restrictions, the implications of these policies on illegal immigration, and the political dynamics surrounding border issues within the context of the 2024 presidential race, particularly in relation to former President Donald Trump’s stance and actions.
In conclusion, Vice President Kamala Harris’s announcement of steadfast support for President Biden’s asylum restrictions during her visit to the U.S.-Mexico border signifies her commitment to enhance border security measures. By proposing stricter deactivation criteria for asylum policies and emphasizing the urgency of combating fentanyl trafficking, Harris aims to position herself favorably against former President Trump’s critique and bolster her immigration strategy as part of her presidential campaign. The developments highlight the importance of immigration as a pivotal issue in the upcoming election.
Original Source: www.cbsnews.com
