Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris made her first visit to the U.S.-Mexico border in her 2024 presidential campaign, advocating for stricter asylum restrictions and pledging to prioritize stopping fentanyl from entering the U.S.
In Douglas, Arizona, a border town with less than 17,000 residents, Harris criticized her Republican opponent Donald Trump for stoking fear and division regarding immigrants’ impact on American life.
Harris proposed harsher penalties for illegal border crossers, supporting President Biden’s asylum ban for those entering unlawfully. She emphasized stricter border enforcement while aiming for a humane immigration program.
The Vice President focused on addressing the fentanyl crisis, vowing to disrupt the global supply chain of the deadly drug. With a rising number of fentanyl overdoses, Harris emphasized the need for international cooperation, particularly from China.
As immigration remains a key issue for voters, Harris seeks a balanced approach to border security while addressing the root causes of migration from Central America. The U.S.-Mexico border continues to be a point of contention, with both parties vying for Latino voter support in states like Arizona.
With criticisms from Trump on Harris’s approach to border issues, the debate on immigration policy remains heated, shaping the narrative for the 2024 election.
© Thomson Reuters 2024.