Harris’ Border Trip is a Useless PR Stunt

Three months after being tasked with dealing with the border disaster, Vice President Kamala Harris lastly visited the border on June 25 – simply days after former President Donald Trump introduced he was going to go to the southern border on June 30 with Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) and a gaggle of different Republicans.

Right here’s the catch: Harris visited El Paso, a metropolis greater than 800 miles away from the epicenter of the disaster within the Rio Grande Valley. El Paso has seen 113,824 apprehensions. Comparatively, the Rio Grande Valley has almost 300,000.

Due to this, her alternative to go to El Paso has been largely criticized by Republicans. Congressman Rick Allen (R-Ga.) tweeted that Harris is “deliberately avoiding the Rio Grande Valley. If she was critical about addressing this humanitarian disaster, she would go to the Donna Facility the place [Customs and Border Protection] CBP has been overwhelmed with report ranges of unaccompanied minors.”

Congresswoman Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.) tweeted, “Visiting the border must be extra than simply checking a field. To actually perceive the Biden Border Disaster, [Harris] wants to listen to from the ranchers, farmers, and residents who dwell with the results of this administration’s failing insurance policies.”

GOP Chief Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) wrote “Kamala Harris ought to have visited the border months in the past. She now has an opportunity to see what 100+ Home Republicans have already witnessed firsthand: the Biden administration’s open-border insurance policies have created a disaster the place youngsters are endangered, households are exploited, and drug cartels are emboldened.”

Moreover, it’s clear that the Biden administration’s solely plan to stem the disaster is by telling international nationals “don’t come.” They’ve torn down each safeguard positioned there by the earlier administration and proceed to depart our border unsecured. Within the phrases of Democratic Rep. Veronica Escobar (TX), the Democrats view the southern border as the brand new Ellis Island.

Whereas it’s good that the Vice President visited the border, it’s clear that VP Harris’ journey to El Paso was nothing greater than checking a field and it’s unlikely any form of motion to stem the disaster will consequence.