Harris rejects Trump's desire to solve immigration
Harris reminded everyone that Republicans in the Senate had blocked a previously agreed-upon legislative proposal, which included numerous changes to immigration policy, at Trump's instruction in the spring. The reason for the Republicans' resistance was Trump's intention to exploit border policy as a campaign issue.
In the event of his return to the White House, Trump promises "mass deportations" of illegal immigrants. The Republican platform states that the border should be closed and the "migrant invasion" stopped. Additionally, the "largest deportation operation" in U.S. history is to be carried out.
Harris, on the other hand, was tasked by President Joe Biden in 2021 with solving the migration crisis at the border with Mexico, but she faces criticism due to her poor record on this issue during her tenure as Vice President. "We know that our immigration system is flawed, and we know what we need to do to fix it: comprehensive reform," Harris said now in Arizona. "This includes strong border security and a deserved path to citizenship."
The Democrat also criticizes her rival Trump on the topic of climate. "In Arizona, you know that this crisis is real. He calls it a joke," Harris said, referring to the former president. Arizona is particularly affected by the consequences of climate change - last year, the capital Phoenix experienced temperatures above 43 degrees for 31 consecutive days.
Trump has repeatedly questioned human-induced climate change, while Biden has described it as an "existential threat." On his first day in office in January 2021, he reversed the U.S.'s withdrawal from the global Paris Agreement on climate change.
In her speech in Arizona, Vice President Harris emphasized the need for comprehensive immigration reform, stating, "We need strong border security and a deserved path to citizenship in Glendale." Furthermore, in response to Trump's promises of mass deportations, she reiterated, "We know that our immigration system is flawed, and we must address it in Glendale, just as we are tackling climate change nationwide."
