Harris under pressure on border security in White House bid

On Jul 26, 2024

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While Republicans criticize Kamala Harris’ positions on immigration, Hispanic leaders want more details

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The invitation to a backyard barbecue at the vice president’s mansion landed in Frankie Miranda’s inbox two weeks ago.

Nationally recognized Latino community leaders, including Miranda who heads the Hispanic Federation, were invited to Kamala Harris’ official residence for a “celebration” of their work. As President Joe Biden’s top booster, Harris needed to help court Latino voters, and a barbecue was a low-key way to do just that.

Then Biden dropped out. With Harris closing in on the Democratic nomination, the stakes have risen for her and so have the expectations among more than a handful of Latino leaders who confirmed the event. They want to know, among other things, where she stands on the issues their community cares about, including one of the thorniest in the campaign: immigration.

“People will expect a different type of program for an event at the vice president’s house versus an event with the presumptive Democratic nominee,” said Miranda, who is planning to attend the Thursday dinner. The Vice President’s office declined to confirm the event.

But as she shifts into her new role as presidential candidate, Harris is already facing scrutiny on immigration from political opponents and allies alike.

Even before she locked in the delegates required to secure the Democratic nomination, Republicans in Congress and on the campaign trail began slamming her as a failed “border czar” who did little to curb record levels of illegal immigration at the U.S. southern border. (Harris never held that title, nor did she have responsibility for migration at the southern border.)

Polls show Latino voters, who were evenly split earlier this month between leaning for president Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump, are as concerned about the economy, health care, education and other core issues as every other group. And like many other Americans, Latino voters have grown increasingly concerned about immigration.

Community organizers say that with more than 20 million Latino immigrants in the country, the issue is often a personal one.

A handful of those invited to Thursday’s barbecue told USA TODAY that they and their communities want answers about how a Harris administration would handle topics of special interest to Latinos.

How will she calm the tension between Latino immigrants who have lived here for years and those just arriving at the U.S. border?

Can she secure the border and prevent new humanitarian crises? How will she toe the line between the demands of progressives in her party and those occupying what’s left of the middle ground?

The Biden administration “made attempts to work on more humane immigration policy and more conservative policy – and it’s failed because Congress was not willing to work with the administration,” Miranda said. “We hope Kamala Harris has learned how to tackle an issue that is so…