Donald Trump has made immigration and the U.S.-Mexico border a central issue of his campaign, successfully pressuring Republicans to reject a major bipartisan border deal earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Kamala Harris sought to counter Trump’s attacks on her immigration record during the campaign.
Trump’s attacks stem from President Joe Biden’s 2021 assignment of Harris to oversee diplomatic efforts in Central America. While Harris focuses on long-term solutions, the Department of Homeland Security remains responsible for overseeing border security.
Here’s what both candidates promised on this issue:
playing cards
In a January op-ed, President Trump vowed to “use the Alien Hostiles Act to remove known and suspected gang members, drug traffickers, and cartel members from the United States.”
He also wrote that he plans to “transfer the majority of federal law enforcement to immigration enforcement agencies, including portions of the DEA, ATF, FBI, and DHS.”
In a video posted to Truth Social in February before his border trip, Trump also promised to “conduct the largest domestic deportation operation in American history.”
In June, President Trump proposed “automatically” granting green cards to foreign nationals who graduate from U.S. universities, a move Trump made during his time in office as he sought to curb both legal and illegal immigration. It’s a statement that deviates from the effort.
After the Israel-Hamas war began last October, President Trump promised to end visas for “Hamas supporters.”
Harris
His campaign released a video in July expressing support for more Border Patrol agents, and echoed President Trump’s efforts to dismantle a bipartisan immigration deal that includes the toughest border security measures in recent memory. He has frequently criticized promotion of success.
In June, the White House announced a crackdown on asylum applications aimed at continuing to reduce border crossings. Ms. Harris’ campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, suggested to CBS News in July that the policy would continue under her administration.
As the border became a political vulnerability for Biden, Harris spoke only occasionally about her efforts. But she gave her own assessment of the government’s efforts to involve the private sector. Harris orchestrated the Sino-American Partnership, which has served as a liaison between businesses and the U.S. government.
Experts rate Harris’ ability to secure private sector investment as her most notable move to date in the region, but caution about the long-term sustainability of these investments. .
Read more about Harris and Trump’s positions on key issues.
