In early 2021, President Biden enlisted Vice President Harris to help with a slice of the migration issue — a move that has turned into one of the presumptive presidential nominee's first campaign headaches, Axios reports. Confusion around the VP's exact role, early media misfires and the rapidly changing regional migration crisis has made the issue a top target for the GOP trying to define their new opponent. It has become even more critical for Harris' to find a clear border message, fast. The administration's early infighting, blame-shifting and indecision around their border response does not help her. The Trump campaign and Republicans have tagged Harris repeatedly with the "border czar" title — which she never actually had. "Harris was appointed 'border czar' in March of 2021, and since that time, millions and millions of illegal aliens have invaded our country and countless Americans have been killed by migrant crime because of her willful demolition of America borders and laws," Trump said Tuesday.
House GOP Chair Elise Stefanik introduced a resolution condemning the administration and its "Border Czar" for failing to secure the U.S. Harris supporters have rushed to her defense. "She assumed the role that Vice President Biden had during the Obama administration, which is diplomacy with Central America," said former DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson. "She is not the border czar." Immigration has remained a top concern for U.S. voters, and for the first time in almost two decades, a majority of Americans say there should be less immigration, according to Gallup. Making a clear immigration pitch to voters could be critical for Harris's campaign. The Biden campaign had been going on offense, blaming Republicans for killing a bipartisan border deal and touting a decline in border numbers following a new, strict executive action.
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