Harris and Trump’s actions and plans for the border
In recent years, the situation at America’s southern border has been a contentious issue in U.S. politics. The tension only intensified when Vice President Kamala Harris replaced President Biden as the Democratic nominee, with former President Donald Trump falsely claiming that she is America’s “border czar” and therefore to blame for the entire situation at the border.
Since taking office in 2021, Biden and Harris reversed some of Trump’s strict immigration policies, leading to a surge in illegal crossings to a record high of over 2 million per year, on average. Democrats argue that the causes of this surge are complex and predate Biden’s presidency, citing reasons such as foreign violence, economic hardship, and cartels profiting from illegal crossings. On the other hand, Republicans and critics claim that the White House’s policies have encouraged migrants to attempt the journey by using immigration parole at a historic scale and halting most ICE arrests and deportations.
Harris has faced criticism for delaying her visit to the border and making contradictory statements about her visits. However, since launching her presidential bid, Harris has countered by accusing Trump of sabotaging a bipartisan effort to enhance border security to gain political advantage.
Now, Harris is traveling to the southern border for the first time since June 2021, aiming to continue highlighting Trump’s role in the immigration issue while she is there.
What are the differences between Harris and Trump regarding U.S. border policy, and how could they reshape it?
The upcoming election in November will feature a former president competing against the current vice president, providing a platform to compare and contrast their approaches to border policy based on their White House records.
Let’s delve into what Trump and Harris have done so far about the border and what they plan to do next.
Where They’re Coming From
Trump’s Approach: Donald Trump’s political following was largely built on a hard-line stance on immigration. He focused on issues such as questioning President Obama’s birthplace, making derogatory comments about Mexican immigrants, and promising to build a physical wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Harris’s Approach: Kamala Harris, from a background of immigrant parents, has emphasized a dual approach to immigration in her career as a prosecutor. She has shown willingness to support immigrant communities while also holding them accountable for breaking the law.
What They’ve Done in Office
Trump’s Actions: During his presidency, Trump implemented over 400 executive actions on immigration, including travel bans, border wall construction, and family separation policies.
Harris’s Actions: As a senator and later as vice president, Harris opposed Trump’s immigration policies and played a role in reversing many of them after Biden took office. She focused on reuniting families, reinstating DACA, and overhauling ICE guidelines for arrests and deportations.
What They Want to Do Next
Trump’s Plans: Trump’s future immigration policies include mass deportations, detention camps, travel bans, and a tougher stance on border security measures, aiming to expel millions of immigrants annually.
Harris’s Plans: Harris supports bipartisan efforts to enhance border security but faces challenges from Republican opposition. She aims to sign a bipartisan border security bill, create a pathway to citizenship for immigrants, and possibly extend executive actions to protect certain groups of undocumented immigrants.
Overall, the differences between Harris and Trump in their approach to border policy reflect contrasting ideologies on immigration and national security. As the border issue continues to impact U.S. politics, the decisions and actions of these key figures will shape the future of border policy in the country.
