Vice President Kamala Harris announced a plan on Friday to not only maintain President Joe Biden’s strict asylum policies but also to intensify them if she wins the 2024 election. Speaking at Cochise County College in Douglas, Arizona, Harris detailed her proposal, which includes tougher restrictions on asylum and stricter penalties for illegal border crossings.
Harris’ Border Security Plan
Harris’ proposal would build on Biden’s current asylum rules, which suspend asylum claims when daily border crossings exceed 2,500. The vice president plans to increase prosecutions for illegal crossings, including felony charges for repeat offenders. This marks a shift from her 2019 stance, when she supported decriminalizing illegal border crossings.
She also wants to make it more difficult to lift asylum restrictions by requiring lower numbers of crossings for a longer period before easing restrictions. Harris emphasized that an “orderly and secure” immigration system is her goal, as she positions herself to compete with Donald Trump on the issue of border security.
Targeting Trump’s Immigration Record
Harris used her trip to the southern border to highlight Trump’s role in derailing a bipartisan border security bill. “It was the strongest border security bill we’ve seen in decades,” Harris said, blaming Trump for killing the deal. The Harris campaign is banking on her tough stance to win over voters concerned about immigration, particularly as Trump continues to criticize her handling of the issue.
Enforcement and Resources
During her trip, Harris toured the Raul H. Castro port of entry and received briefings on efforts to stop fentanyl trafficking. She pledged to bolster law enforcement resources at the border, including deploying 100 new inspection systems and doubling the Justice Department’s budget for prosecuting criminal organizations. Harris also called for increased cooperation with China to crack down on companies producing the chemicals used to make fentanyl.
A Shift in Democratic Strategy
Harris’ tougher stance on border security reflects a broader Democratic shift since the collapse of the bipartisan border deal earlier this year. While many in the party welcome her strong position, some immigration advocates have expressed frustration, arguing that Harris hasn’t focused enough on providing relief for undocumented immigrants already in the U.S.
In her speech, Harris emphasized the need for a pathway to citizenship for long-time residents, including Dreamers and DACA recipients. She reiterated her commitment to creating a humane immigration system while protecting America’s “legacy as a nation of immigrants.”
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