DNC speakers to discuss immigration with focus on stricter border policies
As the Democratic National Convention unfolds, a spotlight is set to shine on immigration policy and border security. The upcoming speeches on Wednesday will tackle what has been a significant political issue for Democrats and Vice President Kamala Harris. The goal is to reshape the narrative surrounding this topic and address vulnerabilities that have been exploited in the current campaign cycle.
The lineup of speakers includes Democratic lawmakers with a focus on immigration policy, as well as the sheriff of a Texas county near the U.S.-Mexico border. They are poised to showcase their support for a bipartisan border security agreement reached earlier this year. This deal entails imposing strict limitations on asylum and allocating funds for the recruitment of thousands of additional Border Patrol agents and immigration officers.
The speakers are ready to take aim at former President Donald Trump, accusing him of using immigration as a political tool. They will criticize his efforts to thwart the bipartisan border policy compromise by urging Republican lawmakers to reject it. The collapse of this compromise in Congress due to insufficient GOP support will be highlighted in their speeches. Furthermore, Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric and controversial campaign promises, such as mass deportations, will be underscored to contrast with the Democratic approach.
Among those slated to delve into the realm of immigration are Sen. Chris Murphy, who played a pivotal role in negotiating the border security deal, Rep. Tom Suozzi, known for his centrist stance on immigration issues, and sheriff Javier Salazar from Bexar County, Texas. Additionally, Democratic Rep. Pete Aguilar, the highest-ranking Latino in Congress, and social media influencer Carlos Eduardo Espina are scheduled to make their voices heard on Wednesday.
With the 2024 race heating up, Democrats are keen on quelling attacks on their immigration policies. Republicans and Trump have been quick to capitalize on the surge in illegal border crossings under the Biden administration. This surge has been used to make immigration a central issue in the ongoing political discourse. In an attempt to counter these narratives, Trump is planning a visit to the Arizona-Mexico border to offer a contrasting perspective to the DNC proceedings.
Public opinion surveys have consistently indicated that immigration is a contentious issue for the Biden-Harris administration. A recent CBS News poll revealed that voters perceive Trump as more capable of reducing migrant crossings at the southern border than Vice President Harris. This underscores the need for Democrats to address the concerns surrounding immigration effectively.
Harris has been under scrutiny for the rise in border crossings, with critics labeling her as the “border czar,” despite not holding such a formal title. Her 2020 presidential bid, which included advocating for decriminalizing border crossings, has been a focal point for her detractors. However, Harris is working to reshape this narrative by emphasizing her support for bipartisan border security agreements and a pathway to citizenship for long-standing undocumented immigrants.
The decline in border crossings in recent months has been a boon for Harris and the Democrats. The decrease in illegal crossings, attributed to various factors including executive actions by President Biden and Mexico’s efforts to curb migration, provides a positive backdrop for the party’s messaging on border security.
Democrats have pivoted towards a more stringent stance on border security, as reflected in their party platform for the 2024 race. This shift includes advocating for limits on asylum and the expedited deportation of economic migrants. The platform also calls for strengthening asylum claim requirements and empowering the President to halt asylum processing during overwhelming circumstances.
Comparisons to the 2020 party platform highlight this shift in focus, with the previous agenda emphasizing the protection and expansion of asylum systems. The 2020 platform condemned Trump-era immigration policies as cruel and reckless, in stark contrast to the current messaging surrounding border security.
The Democratic National Convention is poised to be a platform for robust discussions on immigration policy and border security. With a lineup of speakers ready to address these critical issues, the aim is to redefine the narrative surrounding Democrats’ stance on immigration and showcase a unified front on border security.
