'Border Czar' Kamala Harris under fire as campaign alleges Trump wants to 'separate children from mothers'
WASHINGTON, DC: Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign retorted to Republicans who criticized her record on immigration, asserting former president Donald Trump wanted to separate mothers from their children and that was his only solution to resolve the border crisis.
Since she stepped into President Joe Biden's shoes as the Democratic presumptive nominee after receiving the endorsement from the octogenarian and support from the delegates, the GOP has revamped its attack on her role as "Border Czar."
During a campaign press call on July 23, Trump voiced his willingness to debate his new opponent at least once before the November election. He accused Harris of failing to secure the border, adding he would enforce local law enforcement to arrest the undocumented immigrants.
Earlier this week, Biden stepped down from the 2024 race, passing the torch to his 59-year-old vice president and running mate.
Kamala Harris' campaign claims Trump turned border crisis into personal agenda
"The only 'plan' Donald Trump has to secure our border is ripping mothers from their children and a few xenophobic placards at the Republican National Convention," Kevin Munoz, the vice president's campaign spokesperson, told Newsweek.
"He tanked the toughest bipartisan border security deal in a generation because for Donald Trump, this has never been about actually securing the border – it's always about himself."
Earlier this year, the Senate thwarted the Biden-endorsed border security bill after Trump lobbied the GOP Senators to prevent a legislative victory for his successor ahead of the 2024 election.
"He can make up whatever lies he wants but the fact is there's only one candidate in this race who will fight for real solutions to help secure our nation's border, and that's Vice President Harris," Munoz added.
In March 2021, Biden assigned Harris to address the factors driving immigrants from Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico. According to a 2021 article by Axios, she was "appointed by Biden as border czar."
Democrats defend Kamala Harris as Republicans unleash attacks on her border management
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin jumped into Harris's defense as GOP lawmakers mounted criticisms on Harris over the influx of illegal immigrants entering the country through the Mexico border.
The Illinois Democrat told Newsweek that the Republican Party and Trump linked immigration with "fear and hate" and projected the anti-immigrant rhetoric of undocumented migrants "poisoning the blood" of America.
"The Biden-Harris Administration understands that as challenging as it may be, immigration is at the heart of who we are as Americans," Durbin said.
He also called out the Senate Republicans who opposed the bipartisan border bill, accusing them of prioritizing Trump's demands instead of resolving the urgent crisis. He added that the Biden-Harris administration opted for the executive action due to the GOP's refusal to take action.
Meanwhile, a Trump campaign spokesperson slammed Harris, calling her an "epic failure" in her role as "Border Czar."
"If dangerously liberal Kamala is president, our border will remain wide open to terrorists and criminals from around the world who will face no consequence for committing heinous migrant crimes, as Kamala has said she wants to decriminalize illegal immigration and has long supported soft-on-crime policies allowing violent criminals out of jail," said Trump campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Internet criticizes Kamala Harris
Netizens blamed Harris over the current situation at the border in response to her campaign's attack on Trump, accusing him of ripping children from their mothers.
"Says the border czar who's never actually been to the border," a user wrote.
"She has no defense for that border she was overseeing. #BorderCrisis is on her," another claimed.
"Says the woman who lost track of 100,000 children and 3.5 years from the southern border. She needs to sit down, be quiet because she’s lying again," added a third user.
Says the border czar who's never actually been to the border
— Jodi Sinclair (@mamaofmastiffs) July 24, 2024
She has no defense for that border she was overseeing.#BorderCrisis is on her
— Cappy 🍀🇺🇸 (@Mulligan2929) July 24, 2024
Says the woman who lost track of 100,000 children and 3.5 years from the southern border. She needs to sit down, be quiet because she’s lying again.
— Tired of being politically correct (@USBornNRaised) July 24, 2024
"If she had been doing her job, that wouldn't happen," read a fourth response.
"So the border czar that never visited the border will make it better this time? I doubt it," another person said.
"Thats rich coming from the person in charge of the border she hasn't been to. But it's OK she also hasn't been to Europe," someone else remarked.
So the border czar that never visited the border will make it better this time? I doubt it.
— iJudo (@obligatoryasian) July 24, 2024
Thats rich coming from the person in charge of the border she hasn't been to. But it's OK she also hasn't been to Europe
— Imfomercial (@Imfomercial1) July 25, 2024
"Harris will either put children in cages like Obama. Or, will keep encouraging them to come, so they risk their lives to come here. All for misleading talking points. Disgusting," an individual argued.
"No. Deport the law breaking moms and their children. THE INVASION OF OUR COUNTRY IS ON KAMALA, the worthless BORDER CZAR!" Another user chimed in.
Harris will either put children in cages like Obama. Or, will keep encouraging them to come, so they risk their lives to come here. All for misleading talking points. Disgusting.
— scott (@scott11846075) July 24, 2024
No. Deport the law breaking moms and their children. THE INVASION OF OUR COUNTRY IS ON KAMALA, the worthless BORDER CZAR!
— IndyLisa (@IndyLisa09) July 25, 2024
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.