(ProsperNews.net) – Vice President Kamala Harris made her first visit to the southern border since becoming the Democratic nominee for president, delivering a speech in Douglas, Arizona, pledging to address illegal immigration while criticizing former President Trump. Speaking just two miles from the border, Harris promised stricter enforcement against unlawful border crossings, stating that those who enter illegally will be apprehended, barred from reentry for five years, and denied asylum if they fail to enter at legal points.
Harris emphasized the need for an “orderly and secure” immigration system and committed to pursuing more severe penalties for repeat offenders. Drawing on her experience as California’s attorney general, she claimed her administration would crack down on criminal organizations trafficking guns, drugs, and people across the border, noting that these groups “couldn’t care less who somebody voted for.”
A key focus of Harris’s speech was the fentanyl crisis, which has surged in the U.S., partly due to trafficking across the border. Harris vowed to increase support for law enforcement by adding more personnel, training, and advanced technology to detect fentanyl at border checkpoints. She also committed to doubling resources for the Department of Justice to fight transnational criminal organizations and cartels.
Harris didn’t shy away from criticizing Trump’s immigration policies, accusing him of failing to address the root causes of the border crisis. She slammed his administration for separating families, placing children in cages, and ending protections for Dreamers. Harris argued that Trump’s actions worsened the situation and that his approach lacked true leadership.
In contrast, Harris outlined a vision that balances border security with humane immigration policies, rejecting what she called the “false choice” between the two. She reiterated her support for a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, emphasizing that they are “American in every way.”
The visit, however, comes amid criticism from Republicans, Trump supporters, and the National Border Patrol Council, who claim Harris’s efforts are too little, too late. Critics have pointed to the massive influx of illegal immigrants under the Biden administration, with over 7.2 million entering the U.S. since 2021. Despite the political pushback, Harris reaffirmed her commitment to fixing the immigration system, stressing the importance of collaboration between Democrats and Republicans to achieve a secure and humane solution.
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