GOP Targets Kamala Over Border Handling

On Tuesday, Senator Marsha Blackburn introduced a resolution that sharply criticizes Vice President Kamala Harris for her lackluster efforts to manage the U.S. southern border, a responsibility she was assigned by President Joe Biden in March 2021. Blackburn’s resolution condemns Harris for failing to address the crisis effectively, despite her designation as the “border czar” tasked with tackling the root causes of illegal immigration.

In a statement to Newsmax, Blackburn underscored her frustration with Harris’s performance, stating, “From day one, Vice President Harris has dismissed the severe national security and safety concerns at our southern border.” The Tennessee Republican highlighted that under the Biden-Harris administration, the U.S. has seen over 10 million illegal border crossings and the release of nearly 100 individuals on the terrorist watchlist into the country. Blackburn argued that Harris’s inability to manage the border crisis has had dire consequences, resulting in significant harm to Americans.

Blackburn criticized Harris for not visiting the southern border until June 25, 2021—93 days after her appointment. When Harris did make a visit, she chose El Paso, Texas, which is far from the most critical areas of the border crisis. This delay and the choice of location, according to Blackburn, illustrate Harris’s ineffectiveness in her role.

Since Biden and Harris took office, there have been over 9.7 million encounters with illegal immigrants nationwide. At the southern border alone, there have been more than 7.9 million encounters, with an estimated 2 million “got-aways” who have eluded Border Patrol agents. This figure surpasses the number of those who evaded officers in the previous decade combined. Blackburn pointed out that illegal immigrant encounters at the southern border surged to 170,723 in May 2024—a 185% increase compared to May totals during President Donald Trump’s administration.

Blackburn’s resolution also raises alarm about the impact of Harris’s policies on public safety, citing tragic cases where illegal immigrants with violent criminal backgrounds have committed serious crimes in the U.S. Additionally, she referenced a June NBC report stating that over 50 illegal immigrants with ISIS ties were released by the Biden administration, and more than 350 individuals with connections to ISIS and on the terrorist watchlist were intercepted at the southern border under Biden and Harris’s leadership.

In response to Blackburn’s resolution, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., has introduced a similar resolution in the House, reflecting a growing Republican concern over the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of border security.