Vice President Kamala Harris recently visited the southern border in Arizona to tackle the issue of immigration, aiming to cut into Donald Trump’s lead on the topic. Harris criticized Trump for sabotaging a bipartisan border security bill earlier in the year, stating that it was the strongest bill seen in decades. She highlighted the importance of taking action on border security rather than using it as a political tool. In response, Trump increased his rhetoric on immigration, accusing Harris of being responsible for violent crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.
The focus on immigration and border security is an attempt by Democrats to challenge Trump’s advantage in this area. A recent CNN poll showed that Trump is trusted by 49% of likely voters to handle immigration, compared to Harris’ 35%. Harris also outlined proposals to strengthen restrictions on asylum seekers and provide pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children. The battle over immigration comes at a time when attention has shifted away from the presidential race, with other issues such as Hurricane Helene and escalating tensions in Israel taking the forefront.
A new CNN poll revealed that Harris has a lead in Nebraska’s 2nd District, which awards one electoral college vote to the winner. This single electoral vote could be crucial if Harris sweeps key states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin but loses Sun Belt swing states. Trump faces limited paths to victory if he fails to hold onto crucial states like North Carolina. The Trump campaign held a press call featuring mothers of those killed by undocumented immigrants or fentanyl overdose, blaming Harris for a lack of accountability on border security.
Contrary to Republican claims, border crossings have decreased significantly in recent months due to executive action to curb asylum access. Harris emphasized her experience as California attorney general in dealing with transnational criminal organizations and strengthening borders. As the 2024 presidential race remains uncertain, attention is focused on key battleground states and the upcoming debates between vice presidential nominees. The battle over immigration and border security continues to be an important issue in the current political landscape.
