Vice President Kamala Harris, despite her questionable stewardship of the immigration issue, somehow carved out time to attend a swanky fundraiser in San Francisco. This came after spending a day in Arizona where she had the audacity to pledge to uphold Biden administration’s hardline stance on asylum seekers entering the country illegally. One might wonder about her actual impact given her lackluster performance so far.
Interestingly, the Democratic presidential nominee is spending her weekend collecting campaign funds while her Republican adversary, Donald Trump, engages with everyday Americans at a college football game in Alabama. This seemingly encapsulates the current political climate where Democratic leadership appears isolated from regular citizens.
After a fruitless visit to Douglas, Ariz., a vital port of entry along the southern U.S. border, Harris arrived in San Francisco for the fundraiser. Trying to ride on Trump’s popular immigration policy, she claimed to be working towards reinforcing Biden’s June crackdown on illegal asylum seekers. Such rhetoric felt more like a desperate attempt to compete with Trump’s effectual policies than a sincere commitment to law enforcement.
Harris’ bold proclamation about deporting illegal immigrants and barring them from reentry for five years may sound tough on the surface. But is this a smokescreen? One could only wonder about the efficacy of such promises when we look at the current border situation under the Biden administration.
Additionally, Harris lauded the Department of Homeland Security statistics that showed Biden’s order limiting migrant asylum entries led to a 40% fall in unlawful encounters at the U.S. southern border. Whether these stats are true or merely manipulated to fit their narrative, only time will tell.
Harris didn’t miss the chance to take a jab at Trump, blaming him for the failure of a bipartisan immigration bill that purportedly sought to enhance presidential power concerning the border issue. However, closer examination of the bill could arguably reveal more than meets the eye, exposing Democratic overreach with potentially profound implications to the economy and security of the country.
In a seemingly desperate attempt to gain favor, Harris pledged to revive the botched immigration bill should she win the election. Claiming it to be endorsed by the Border Patrol union, she touted it as the ‘most effective’ border security bill the nation had seen in years. Given current circumstances, such claims seem less credible and more like wishful thinking.
Trump and his running mate, Ohio senator JD Vance, appear to grasp the gravity of the immigration issue, continually criticizing Harris for her inaction. Surveys also indicate that voters feel confident in the Republican ticket’s ability to handle the border crisis, demonstrating the disconnect between Harris’ rhetoric and voter sentiment.
Trump, speaking candidly in New York, aptly presented the grim reality. He called the current border situation under the Biden administration ‘the worst border crisis in history,’ bringing untold suffering and death to the country. The underlying message was clear: Harris has been ineffective at best and destructive at worst.
Committed to bringing the harsh realities of the border situation to the forefront, Trump is planning a speech addressing immigration in Prairie du Chien, Wis. Instead of brushing the crisis under the carpet, Trump intends to connect with the people and address the issue directly, demonstrating real leadership.
Meanwhile, Harris appears to be sidestepping important issues, choosing to instigate a petty spat with Trump, accusing him of avoiding a second debate. She has even cooked up an elaborate plan with a quirky banner flying over a football stadium during the highly-anticipated match, which could be perceived as a playful but childish political maneuver.
Furthering the trend of frivolous engagement from the Democratic team, Harris’s running mate, Minnesota Gov. Walz, made an appearance during a college game in Ann Arbor, Mich., and not discussing substantive policy issues but instead trying to win fans.
One significant observation from this political drama is clear: While Trump is primarily engaged with real-world issues and seems to have a robust plan for the border crisis, Democrats appear more interested in political gamesmanship than solving the country’s pressing problems.
The coming weeks will no doubt become more politically heated, but the electorate will not forget the underwhelming performance of Harris and lack of immediate action to protect the border. The promise of ‘change,’ it seems, has yet to materialize.