Vice President Kamala Harris is receiving criticism following the emergence of campaign footage where she promises supporters she will close immigration detention centers once president.
Vice President Harris made the comments during a campaign event in Iowa.
When asked if she would close immigration detention centers, Harris responded unequivocally: “Absolutely, on day one. On day one.”
According to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), detention centers hold and deport “ noncitizens who undermine the safety of our nation’s communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws.”
Detention centers also serve to house immigrants undergoing legal immigration proceedings.
US Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) cited Harris’ statement as proof of her agenda for a porous southern border.
“(Harris) believes in a wide-open border, mass amnesty, and zero punishment for breaking our laws,” said Senator Scott.
Border Czar Kamala Harris has made clear time and time again what she thinks our border should look like.
She believes in a wide-open border, mass amnesty, and zero punishment for breaking our laws. https://t.co/7IlLv3SegS
— Rick Scott (@ScottforFlorida) August 14, 2024
Harris, the presumptive Democrat Presidential nominee, has helped develop President Joe Biden’s immigration policy throughout the course of the previous four years.
Harris has overseen a historic border crisis, with the highest number of illegal immigrants entering the country through the southern border in American history.
Since President Biden assumed office, an estimated 7.2 million migrants entered the country illegally.
New illegal immigrant arrivals add to the already 10.5 million illegal immigrants already present in the US, according to 2023 Pew Research data.
In light of the gargantuan magnitude of the US’ illegal immigration crisis, some have called for a wholesale reform of the US’ entire immigration system.
US Representative Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) has proposed the ‘Dignity Act,’ which would reform laws regarding border security, asylum claims, illegal immigration, agricultural competitiveness, and the US’ domestic workforce.
