As Kamala Harris vies for the presidency, her track record on immigration and border security raises questions about what her approach would look like if she steps into the Oval Office. Throughout her career, Harris has projected toughness, but critics argue her actions have often fallen short of her rhetoric.
As San Francisco’s district attorney, Harris’s “Back on Track” program allowed illegal immigrants, including drug offenders, to avoid prison. In one case, a participant violently assaulted a woman, leading to intense backlash. Harris’s tenure as California’s attorney general saw her advocating against ICE detainers, and she has consistently opposed expanding border walls, calling Trump’s wall a “medieval vanity project.”
As vice president and “border czar,” Harris has faced criticism for skyrocketing illegal immigration. Despite claiming a reduction in illegal border crossings, critics argue the numbers are manipulated, citing a new CBP One app that allegedly funnels migrants in through legal loopholes. Under her watch, illegal encounters spiked by 2,600%, and criminal alien releases have reached alarming levels.
With Harris pushing for pathways to citizenship, reduced detention, and slashing border funding, her history suggests that her presidency could mean a continued shift towards leniency on immigration—a sharp contrast to her tough talk.