ECNETNews, August 1, 2024: With the U.S. presidential election just 95 days away, Vice President Kamala Harris is emerging as a pivotal figure despite not yet being the official Democratic nominee, having secured enough pledged delegates. The current focus highlights her actions and positions relating to the Caribbean and Latin America during the Biden administration, as detailed in a recent analysis by the Americas Society Council of the Americas.
Immigration
Having a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, Harris brings significant expertise in immigration issues from her roles as vice president, U.S. senator, and California’s attorney general. What are her positions on immigration and related matters concerning Latin America and the Caribbean?
In the early stages of the Biden administration, migration concerns escalated. In March 2021, a notable increase in unaccompanied minors crossing the southern border prompted President Biden to charge Harris with addressing these issues.
As a child of immigrants, Harris has concentrated on tackling the “root causes” of migration, especially the economic hardships in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Her initiatives have led to approximately $5 billion in investments in these nations, with a portion already in motion.
Despite being dubbed the “Border Czar” by some Republicans, a title she never officially held, Harris visited the U.S.-Mexico border in June 2021, reaffirming her dedication to addressing the systemic issues driving migration.
In May, she endorsed a bipartisan border enforcement bill that ultimately failed in the Senate. This bill aimed to enhance funding for border security and increase deportations. Key components of the legislation were later integrated into a Biden executive order in June.
During her Senate tenure, Harris was a critic of the Trump administration’s immigration strategies, notably calling for the resignation of then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen over family separation policies.
U.S.-Mexico Relations
One of Harris’ inaugural foreign visits as vice president included a trip to Mexico in June 2021, where she met President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to discuss bilateral relations and the Biden administration’s Central America strategy focused on drug and human trafficking.
Harris has resisted calls for military interventions against organized crime groups in Mexico, opting instead for diplomatic discussions about crime with incoming Mexican leadership.
If elected president, Harris will lead the 2026 reassessment of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), having previously opposed the pact due to insufficient protections for American workers and environmental concerns.
Cuba and Venezuela
On Cuba, Harris has diverged from President Biden’s approach. She previously advocated for lifting the embargo but has since condemned the Cuban regime’s violence and supported sanctions against its leaders.
Regarding Venezuela, she has favored expanding protections for Venezuelan migrants and has refrained from endorsing military interventions, urging respect for democratic processes and human rights.
Puerto Rico and the Caribbean
Harris visited Puerto Rico in 2024 to promote federal support for hurricane recovery efforts amid local protests regarding independence and tax policies.
Of Jamaican descent, she co-hosted the U.S.-Caribbean Leaders Meeting in June 2023, announcing over $100 million in USAID funding for the region.
Kamala Harris’ comprehensive approach to Latin America and the Caribbean emphasizes diplomacy, economic development, and immigration reform, positioning her policies as vital for shaping future U.S. relations in the region.
