Trump, Vance focus campaign on immigration, criticize Harris’s record ahead of election

As the Democratic Party prepares to accept Vice President Kamala Harris’ nomination for president, former President Donald Trump and Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio have been outspoken on the campaign trail, emphasizing their stance on border security. At a rally in Valdosta, Georgia, reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, Vance attacked Harris’ immigration record, calling her the “failed border czar” and vowing to crack down on illegal immigration. “Once Kamala Harris is removed from office, we will no longer be open to doing business with illegal aliens or Mexican drug cartels. That is our solemn pledge to the American people,” Vance told the crowd.

While Vance was covering the Georgia area, Trump was in Sierra Vista, Arizona, inspecting a border fence with local law enforcement. Trump seized the opportunity to criticize Harris’ handling of border security. “She was the border czar. All of a sudden she says she’s not,” Trump claimed in remarks quoted by KFOR. “There’s never been a border in the entire world that leaked like this border,” he said.

The issue of border security is clearly a rallying point for the Trump-Vance campaign. Trump’s visit to the border and his criticisms seem to illustrate a consistent theme, one that goes back to his first presidential campaign and that seems to highlight a primary weakness in Harris’ political armor. Meanwhile, supporters of the Trump-Vance ticket are voicing concerns about immigration policy. One supporter, Gerald Parker, stressed the importance of border security to him in a statement obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta.

On the other hand, the Biden administration and its allies are pointing the finger at the Republicans. During a speech at the Democratic National Convention, President Joe Biden claimed, “Trump killed the strongest bipartisan border deal in the history of the United States.” Moreover, an immigration bill failed to pass the Senate earlier this year, with both Democrats and Republicans, including Vance, voting against it. Vance defended his vote for KFOR by saying, “It had nothing to do with border security. We need to close the border and stop the cartels from bringing this poison into our communities.”

As the election approaches, debates over immigration and border security are expected to intensify as candidates from both parties try to win votes. Trump and Vance have relentlessly used the issue to appeal to their bases and criticize their opponents, while Democrats, including Harris, continue to grapple with the complexities of immigration and legal hurdles. As the campaigns enter their final stretch, it’s clear that the border controversy will remain a contentious battleground.