As the 2024 presidential campaign intensifies, Vice President Kamala Harris and her newly announced running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, find themselves in the crosshairs of Republican attacks, particularly on the hot-button issue of immigration. The GOP, led by former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance, is seizing on Walz's progressive policies in Minnesota to paint the Harris-Walz ticket as dangerously liberal.
The Trump campaign has been quick to highlight several laws Walz signed in Minnesota, which opened state services and benefits to undocumented immigrants, as evidence of what they call the "radical left" agenda of the Democratic candidates. "This is a guy who wants to give driver's licenses to illegal aliens," Vance declared at a campaign stop in Michigan, accusing Walz of being a "radical human being" from the far-left wing of the Democratic Party.
Trump himself joined the fray, criticizing Walz during a Thursday news conference, accusing the governor of wanting to eliminate borders and compromise U.S. safety. A video posted by the GOP on social media further fueled these accusations, showing both Harris and Walz expressing support for sanctuary states and cities, with Walz stating that he agrees with the concept of local law enforcement focusing on local laws, while the federal government enforces immigration law.
According to Republican strategist John Thomas, the Trump campaign plans to use Walz's record as a way to draw sharp contrasts between the candidates. "By selecting Walz, it was a tacit endorsement of his track record and his policy agenda," Thomas said. "Trump will seek to brand Harris with Walz's liberal track record, particularly on the issue of immigration."
A Harris campaign official, when asked for comment, emphasized that both Harris and Walz support a bipartisan border deal, which Republicans blocked in the Senate earlier this year after Trump voiced opposition to the bill. The official also pointed out that the Biden administration has taken steps to reduce border crossings through executive orders.
Walz's progressive immigration policies have been a focal point for Republicans. Aided by a Democratic majority in the Minnesota legislature, Walz signed several bills into law that have made Minnesota more welcoming to undocumented immigrants. One of the most criticized pieces of legislation is the law allowing undocumented residents to obtain driver's licenses. According to a press release from the governor's office, this measure is intended to improve road safety by ensuring that all drivers are licensed and insured. "The legislation moves us toward our goal of making Minnesota the best state to raise a family for everyone," Walz said at the time.
Another significant policy Walz championed is the expansion of MinnesotaCare, a health insurance program for lower-income residents, to include undocumented immigrants starting in 2025. This measure is expected to provide coverage to 40,000 people and cost the state $109 million through fiscal 2027. Additionally, the North Star Promise Scholarship, which covers tuition and fees at two- and four-year public colleges in the state, is available to undocumented residents whose families earn less than $80,000 annually.
These positions have provided ample ammunition for GOP leaders. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who has made headlines by busing migrants to northern cities, called the Harris-Walz ticket "the most dangerous P/VP ticket ever" in a social media post. "Harris supports free health care to illegal immigrants. Walz signed laws giving state services to them. Both provide magnets for more illegal immigration," Abbott wrote.
Critics within Minnesota, such as Minneapolis GOP Chair Shawn Holster, argue that these policies are straining public resources and driving up costs for residents. Holster, who has seen his property taxes increase by 30% annually over the past three years, blames these hikes on what he describes as Walz's "misplaced largesse." He warned that providing driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants could lead to voting rights issues, stating, "That to me is the most serious part. That influences Minnesota elections going forward."
In response to these attacks, the Harris campaign has remained focused on defending its broader immigration strategy, which they argue is rooted in fairness and safety. However, with the GOP determined to use Walz's policies as a central point of critique, the issue of immigration is poised to remain a contentious and defining theme in the race leading up to the 2024 election.
