Immigration Tough

When Vice President Kamala Harris launched her immigration policies through a campaign video, immigration reform advocates were skeptical. On the other hand, immigration restrictionists quickly pointed out that the border crisis occurred under her watch as the sitting Vice President. Harris can argue that she's not the President, and her role in the Biden administration primarily involves diplomacy and resource consolidation with key Latin American countries, which she identifies as the root cause of immigration issues. However, for the election, Kamala aims to appeal to independent voters and swing Republicans concerned about the border crisis and aligned with Trump’s perspective that the border is currently a failure and a mess.

This drive is reflected in her tough immigration campaign video, showcasing a new approach different from Obama and Biden's. Both former Presidents focused on the human element of immigration reform, advocating for the undocumented population contributing to the American economy while living in the shadows. However, they failed to enact meaningful reform to bring this population out of the shadows, leading to Republicans demonizing immigrants and stoking fear and hate, culminating in Trump and JD Vance's calls for mass deportations.

Kamala seems to be taking a cautious route, scarcely mentioning the undocumented population or the need to provide them with rights and a safety net to thrive in America. Her campaign videos position her as a tough prosecutor on immigration, echoing Trump’s talking points to shield her campaign from immigration-related attacks. This strategy might attract independent and swing Republican voters, but it raises the question: will this approach secure the trust of immigrant communities, who have long endured reform promises from Obama and Biden? If Kamala wins the White House, will she honor those promises, or continue as a tough prosecutor, alienating immigrants once more?