Harris shifts to stricter border policy before 2024: Axios

Kamala Harris now draws on her experience as a former border state prosecutor, claiming she would be more effective than Trump in securing the border while preserving national sovereignty.

Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris, center, talks with John Modlin, the lead patrol agent for the U.S. Border Patrol’s Tucson sector, right, and Blaine Bennett, the Douglas Station border patrol agent in charge, during her visit to the wall at the U.S. border with Mexico in Douglas, Arizona, Friday, September 27, 2024. (AP)

Axios reported Sunday that Vice President Kamala Harris has made a notable change in her position on immigration policy, moving toward stricter border enforcement measures that resemble some of the policies championed by former President Donald Trump.

As the 2024 elections loom, Harris has positioned herself as a strong advocate for border security. She has pledged to curtail asylum claims, prosecute illegal border crossings as crimes and continue construction of the southern border wall.

This pivot in Harris’ approach marks a significant departure from her previous position as a “progressive” voice on immigration. Just a few years ago, she condemned policies like Trump’s border wall and the criminalization of asylum seekers, especially those fleeing violence.

However, in recent speeches and campaign ads, Harris is now highlighting her experience as a former border state prosecutor, claiming she would be more effective than Trump in securing the border while preserving national sovereignty.

Kamala (today): “The United States is a sovereign nation and I believe we have a duty to set and enforce rules on our borders.”

Kamala (last month): “I will close immigration detention centers on day one.” pic.twitter.com/mTvYDZ3qvG

— John LeFevre (@JohnLeFevre) September 28, 2024

Immigration advocates on the left have raised concerns about Harris’ embrace of restrictive measures during the election year, arguing that it could undermine her ability to pass pro-immigration reforms, including pathways to citizenship for undocumented populations, such as DACA recipients and Temporary Protected Status holders.

Andrea Flores, a former Biden administration official, criticized the administration’s stricter asylum rules, saying, “We don’t have to choose between a functional asylum system and a secure border.”

Despite government efforts to create legal pathways for certain populations to enter the U.S., these programs have not provided permanent residency guarantees.

Harris has also avoided clarifying her current position on Biden’s original immigration reform proposal, leaving questions about her commitment to longstanding Democratic priorities like citizenship for “dreamers.”

Read more: Bus of migrants dropped off at Vice President Kamala Harris’ home

Although Harris’ approach now reflects some of Trump’s policies, Axios notes that her vision does not reach as far as Trump’s most radical proposals.

Trump has promised mass deportations, expanded detention facilities and even military action against drug cartels in Mexico.

His rallying cry of “Send them back” has become a central theme of his campaign and stands in stark contrast to Harris’ more moderate, but still restrictive, stance.