With Election Day rapidly approaching, Vice President Kamala Harris made a controversial decision to visit the southern border, a move that many political observers see as strategically unsound. This was her first visit to the border in 3 yeas. In just over a month, voters will be heading to the polls, and the border is widely considered one of Harris’ most vulnerable areas. Her tenure as Vice President has coincided with a record influx of illegal immigration, much of which has occurred after President Joe Biden assigned her the task of addressing the “root causes” of the crisis back in 2021.
At the time, the administration’s intent was to reduce the flow of migrants by improving conditions in countries where people are fleeing from, but the results have been underwhelming, to say the least. Since taking on this role, Harris has faced mounting criticism, both for her lack of visible action and for the ballooning numbers of illegal crossings. Millions of migrants have entered the U.S. illegally, and the Biden administration has struggled to implement any meaningful measures to curb the crisis. For many, Harris’ leadership in this area has been absent, and her reluctance to visit the border earlier has only deepened public perception of failure.
In light of this, her appearance at the border in Douglas, Arizona, on Friday has raised eyebrows. Many are questioning why she would choose to revisit this highly sensitive issue so close to Election Day, especially when the optics are far from favorable. Her visit signals a disconnect between Harris and the political reality of the situation. Her critics argue that this is a calculated move designed to project an image of concern and engagement with border security—a move driven more by campaign needs than by genuine interest in solving the problem.
But before she even set foot in Arizona, Harris was met with sharp rebuke. The National Border Patrol Council, the union representing Border Patrol agents, released a scathing statement ahead of her arrival. Art Del Cueto, the council’s vice president, didn’t hold back in his criticism of Harris’ planned visit, delivering a damning indictment of her and the Biden administration’s border policies.
Del Cueto, a frequent critic of the administration, described the visit as “a slap in the face to the American public.” He went further, stating, “what it is in reality is a slap in the face towards the men and women that put their lives on the line every day.” For many Border Patrol agents, Harris’ presence at the border feels like an empty gesture, a hollow attempt to salvage her image in the eyes of voters who remain frustrated with the unchecked rise in illegal immigration.
Del Cueto didn’t stop there. He concluded his statement with a piercing question that resonates with Americans who have been following this ongoing issue: “Where has she been?” It’s a question that encapsulates the feelings of many voters who have watched in dismay as the border crisis has intensified, seemingly without leadership or oversight from Harris, who was specifically tasked with handling the situation. Her absence from the front lines of this crisis has only fueled anger and confusion about what she’s actually been doing to address the problem.
As noted by Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin, this trip marks Harris’ first visit to the border since 2021, when she briefly stopped in El Paso, Texas. That visit was widely viewed as a politically calculated move, one that occurred only after mounting pressure from both sides of the political aisle. Now, as the 2024 election looms, Harris’ sudden interest in the border once again feels more like a campaign stunt than a sincere effort to tackle the issues at hand.
Adding to the chorus of criticism, the Border Patrol Union has taken to social media to amplify its disapproval. On the platform X (formerly known as Twitter), the union shared several posts last night bashing Harris and questioning her motives. These posts echoed the sentiments expressed by Del Cueto, reinforcing the widespread frustration felt by the men and women tasked with securing the border. The union’s vocal criticism highlights the lack of confidence they have in Harris’ ability to make meaningful change and underscores the deep divisions between the administration and frontline agents.
Harris’ defenders might argue that her visit is a necessary part of addressing the complex and multifaceted challenges of illegal immigration, but for many, the timing of this trip appears suspect. With the election so close, it seems less about genuine engagement and more about damage control. Critics contend that her visit isn’t rooted in any firm principles—many argue she doesn’t have them—but rather in a pursuit of political power.
While candidates often need to differentiate themselves from their opponents, Harris’ decision to appear at the border may have the opposite effect. Instead of drawing a contrast with Republican rivals, her presence at the border only serves to remind voters of the stark difference between the current administration’s handling of immigration and that of former President Donald Trump. Under Trump, border security was a key focus, and many Americans felt that the situation was far more controlled and secure.
The statistics tell a damning story. As reported by Pew Research in February, migrant encounters at the southern border hit a record high in December 2023. These figures make it increasingly difficult for the Biden-Harris administration to argue that their approach to border security has been effective. In the eyes of many voters, the data speaks volumes, and it’s not in Harris’ favor.
To call Harris’ upcoming border visit a political misstep would be an understatement. From the perspective of those most familiar with the situation—namely, Border Patrol agents—the visit is long overdue and woefully insufficient. Del Cueto’s outrage is not only understandable but expected, given that Harris has largely failed to address the crisis in any meaningful way over the past three years. Her sudden decision to engage with the issue now, so close to the election, appears opportunistic at best.
Ultimately, Harris’ motives are transparent to anyone paying attention. She isn’t visiting the border out of a sense of duty or principle. She’s going because she knows that, politically, she has no other choice. But for the men and women on the ground, and for voters across the country, it’s clear that Harris’ primary concern isn’t solving the crisis—it’s securing her own political future.
Source: The Gateway Pundit
