Vice President Kamala Harris made her first visit to the southern U.S. border in more than three years, addressing the issue of immigration. She called for tougher security measures, including new fentanyl detection machines and more Border Patrol agents. Harris also plans to press the Chinese government to crack down on companies that make precursor chemicals for fentanyl. She proposes tightening asylum restrictions beyond President Biden’s executive action and implementing stronger emergency authorities.
Harris has been criticized by Republicans for her handling of the border crisis, with some trying to label her as the administration’s “border czar.” Trump has attacked her record, questioning why she didn’t fix the border issue during her time as attorney general of California. However, Harris has been focusing on addressing root causes of migration in the Northern Triangle countries.
The immigration debate is crucial in Arizona, a battleground state, with ranchers like John Ladd expressing skepticism towards Harris’ approach. Ladd, who has experienced smugglers cutting through the border fence on his property, believes Harris wants an open border. On the other hand, City Council member Danya Acosta appreciates Harris’s efforts but is tired of the polarization surrounding the topic of immigration.
Overall, the issue of immigration remains contentious, with polls showing that more registered voters trust Trump to handle border security and immigration, while more trust Harris to treat immigrants humanely. The debate continues, with different perspectives and opinions on how best to address the challenges at the border.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
