Author name: saurabhpandeygithub07

House Democratic Chair Pete Aguilar and California Representative Pete Aguilar defended Kamala Harris’s handling of border issues at the Democratic National Convention. Democrats aimed to confront one of their biggest political weaknesses, praising the Biden administration’s efforts and calling Harris “tough as nails” on the issue. Donald Trump and his Republican allies have made the border a focal point of their criticism of Ms. Harris, calling her a “failed border czar”. Democrats have credited the decrease to recent actions by the administration to curb illegal immigration, including an executive order signed by President Joe Biden in June that allows US immigration officials to deport migrants without processing their asylum claims. A recent poll from CBS found that 48% of likely voters believe crossings will go up if Ms. Harris wins, while a vast majority, 72%, said they believe they will decrease under Trump. Democrats sought to show the party’s shift toward a tougher immigration message on an issue considered to be one of their biggest political vulnerabilities.

Despite polls showing immigration as a top concern for many voters, some delegates suggest that it will be a secondary electoral issue for many. Others, like Illinois Democratic Representative Jonathan Jackson, believe that work remains to be done to address migrant issues, as economically depressed communities of color bear the brunt of any influx. Migrants, mostly from Venezuela, are milling about shelters just a few miles away as politicians discuss policies that could determine their fate. Many migrants are familiar with immigration, the border, and conceptions of “migrant crime” playing a prominent role in the US political debate. Some migrants feel that politicians unfairly demonize migrants, who don’t understand the reasons why many left their countries for the perilous journey to the US.