Kamala Harris immigration: VP faces criticism from both sides following border visit

Last week, Vice President Kamala Harris finally traveled to the southern border to assess the situation. Despite finally making the trip to visit the state that many migrants are settling in, Harris is facing criticism from both political sides.

Following her visit to the southern border, Harris faced criticism from both Republicans and Democrats over how much time had passed before she finally traveled to the border. This comes as Harris was appointed to lead the Biden administration’s efforts to stem the migration crisis. Thousands of migrants are looking to enter the US following Joe Biden and Harris’s inauguration back in January.

Aside from Republican lawmakers, former President Donald Trump also attacked Harris for her handling of the border crisis. Trump took credit for Harris’ visit last week, saying that it was only after he had announced he would be visiting the border with Texas GOP Governor Greg Abbott that she decided to go.

On the other side, immigration activists and Democratic lawmakers are also criticizing Harris as she looks to get familiar with the aspects of immigration and border security. Democrats and activists were especially critical of Harris following the remarks she made during her visit to Guatemala, telling residents not to come to the US. They pointed out that Harris is also a child of immigrants from Jamaica and India.

Harris visited a border patrol facility when she arrived at El Paso, Texas. Harris also made an unannounced visit to the Paso Del Norte point of entry, one of the busiest pedestrian border crossings in the country. The vice president met with five girls that were detained in the center, and while the meeting was closed to the press, Harris’s office described the meeting with the girls as a positive one.

In other news, Harris has postponed her trip to Detroit, Michigan which was set to take place Monday due to the recent flooding that occurred from heavy rain. The first announcement of Harris’s visit to Detroit was made last week, June 22, with no details on where or what time the vice president would be visiting the state.