There have been growing calls from some Democrats for President Biden to step aside in favor of another presidential candidate following his shaky performance at a recent debate. This has led to speculation about the potential of a President Kamala Harris and how she would handle the ongoing border crisis. If Biden were to step down or choose not to run for a second term, Harris would likely be a top contender for the Democratic nominee. The new president would immediately be tasked with addressing the record number of encounters at the southern border since Biden took office, with uncertainty about the situation heading into the busy summer months.
Vice President Harris would likely continue the current practices of the Biden-Harris administration related to immigration policies. She has supported rolling back Trump-era border policies and backs a sweeping immigration bill introduced on day one of the administration. This bill includes significant reforms, funding measures, and provides a pathway to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants in the U.S. Harris has also supported a bipartisan Senate package that has failed to pass, attributing this to former President Trump’s interference. As a key figure in policy matters, she has led diplomatic outreach to address the root causes of migration in the Northern Triangle countries, linking migration to issues such as climate change, violence, poverty, and economic insecurity.
Harris was given the role of leading the administration’s engagement efforts to tackle the root causes of migration, which she has pursued through diplomatic outreach and investment initiatives. The efforts have resulted in over $5.2 billion committed since May 2021 from private-sector entities and a reduction in encounters at the border. Her 2019 presidential campaign platform suggests she may take a more aggressive approach to executive actions on immigration if she were to become president. This includes expanding protections under DACA via executive order to provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of Dreamers and shield illegal immigrant parents of American citizens and green card holders from deportation.
Harris visited the border in El Paso in June 2021 to address the ongoing crisis, prompting investment commitments and a reduction in encounters from Northern Triangle countries. She has been dubbed the “border czar,” although the White House emphasizes her role in international engagement rather than border management. Harris supports the use of executive actions to protect certain categories of illegal immigrants, as evidenced by Biden’s recent use of parole in place authority. She seeks a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and calls on Congress to pass permanent protections for this group.
The focus on root causes as a driving force behind migration has shaped the Biden-Harris administration’s approach to border security. Harris’ involvement in addressing these issues has resulted in some successes, including private-sector investments in the region and reduced numbers of encounters at the border. As a potential successor to President Biden, Harris would likely continue these efforts and pursue more aggressive executive actions on immigration to provide protections and pathways to citizenship for illegal immigrants. Despite the challenges and uncertainties surrounding the border crisis, Harris remains committed to fixing the broken immigration system and working towards comprehensive reform.