TUCSON, Ariz. — Vice President Harris is scheduled to unveil stricter guidelines for asylum claims during a speech at the U.S.-Mexico border in Douglas, Arizona on Friday, according to a campaign source.
The proposed regulations will expand on President Biden’s earlier executive actions, which temporarily allow the administration to limit asylum claims when they exceed specified thresholds. These new measures include enhanced emergency powers that will make it more difficult to lift restrictions until border crossings decrease significantly.
Harris aims to use this trip to the border to strengthen her political standing on immigration, criticizing her opponent for exacerbating tensions surrounding the issue.
Border security remains a critical political challenge for Harris
As one of the top concerns for voters in the upcoming election, border security gives former President Donald Trump a competitive edge over Harris, though recent polls suggest the gap has narrowed compared to previous elections. Trump has positioned himself as a tough advocate against immigration issues during his campaign.
Harris has previously expressed her intention to push for a bipartisan agreement aimed at increasing funding for border agents, tightening asylum regulations, and expanding detention facilities. She, along with Biden, has held Trump accountable for influencing Congress to stall the proposed legislation.
Following Biden’s executive action to implement certain elements of the stalled bill, unlawful border crossings have reportedly decreased by over 50%, marking the lowest levels observed in four years.
Trump challenges Harris on immigration during the campaign
In a recent speech, Trump criticized Harris for her perceived inaction on border security, labeling her as the “border czar” who is accountable for the increased migration trends during Biden’s administration.
The designation of “border czar” was assigned to Harris by Biden at the beginning of her vice presidency, tasking her with addressing the root causes of migration by collaborating with Central American leaders on economic and social issues.
While Harris has claimed her initiatives related to the underlying causes of migration yielded positive outcomes, she has chosen to focus on her tenure as California’s attorney general and her efforts against drug trafficking during this campaign.
This marks Harris’s first visit to the border since 2021, when she traveled to El Paso, Texas. Her choice of Arizona, a critical swing state, underscores the significance of the 2024 election as Trump seeks to regain his footing in a state he narrowly lost in 2020. Current polling indicates a tightly contested race.
