Vice President Kamala Harris has faced a formal rebuke from the House of Representatives over her handling of immigration issues, a move that has been described as "long overdue but absolutely warranted" by former Border Patrol union head Brandon Judd. The bipartisan resolution, which passed with a vote of 220-196, criticizes Harris and the Biden administration for their perceived failures in addressing illegal immigration.
"It's long overdue but absolutely warranted; better late than never," Judd told Fox News. He pointed to Harris's appointment on March 21, 2021, to address the root causes of migration from the Northern Triangle countries-Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador-as the beginning of her failure. "She failed to do it," Judd said.
Harris has been under fire for years regarding her approach to immigration. Tasked by President Biden to address the root causes of illegal immigration, Harris has faced criticism as illegal crossings reached unprecedented levels between 2021 and 2023. "She didn't look at the push factor from the cartels that go out and drive this," Judd added. "All she did was talk about issues that existed well before her term as vice president."
During her 2020 presidential campaign, Harris supported the decriminalization of illegal immigration. Now, as the front-runner for the Democrats in the 2024 presidential election, she faces increased scrutiny. President Biden, who recently withdrew from the race after a lackluster debate performance against former President Trump, had struggled with low approval ratings for his immigration policies, according to Fox News polls.
Migrants have increasingly been crossing the southern border from as far away as Asia and Africa. Representative Greg Murphy, R-N.C., noted that illegal immigration from China has surged by 8,000%. "Criminal illegals have taken innocent lives across America, fentanyl is pouring in, and over 100,000 individuals now die from drug overdoses each year," Murphy said. "Our legal immigration process has been defiled, and the sovereignty of our nation has been eroded."
The Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua has also expanded its presence in the U.S., contributing to a wave of robberies in New York City. Harris's supporters argue that her mandate was limited to the Northern Triangle, not other countries.
Six Democrats, including four from border states, joined Republicans in voting for the resolution. "We've been told that Vice President Harris' job was to find the root causes of the crisis," said House Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green, R-Tenn. "It turns out to do so, she could have just looked in the mirror."
Critics like retired Yuma Sector Border Patrol Chief Chris Clem insist that Harris must "own" the border crisis. "The numbers don't lie," Clem said. "The U.S.-Mexico border under Harris has been disastrous."
Despite criticism, Harris secured $4.2 billion in private-sector investments for Central America, aiming to create job opportunities. Official figures show that illegal border crossings have decreased by over 50% under the Biden-Harris administration. However, GOP lawmakers remain critical. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene labeled Harris as the "Czar of Chaos," while House Speaker Mike Johnson described her as "completely ineffective."
In the midst of this controversy, former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama endorsed Harris for president. "Michelle and I couldn't be prouder to endorse you and to do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office," Obama said in a video call with Harris.
Harris and Obama have a long-standing relationship, with the former president often serving as an advisor. Obama's endorsement came after Biden's announcement that he would not seek reelection, a decision that infuriated some Democrats.
Harris, the first woman and the first person of Black and Asian descent to serve as vice president, would make history again if elected as the first female and first Black president. Harris's mother emigrated from India, and her father came from Jamaica.
As the Democratic Party moves swiftly to nominate Harris, with official voting set to begin on August 1, the endorsement from the Obamas is expected to bolster her campaign. The Democratic convention is scheduled for August 19-22 in Chicago, where the party will finalize its nomination.
