In a marked shift from her previous stance, Vice President Kamala Harris has now endorsed the construction of a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico.
Vice President Kamala Harris publicly threw her support behind a contentious border security bill during the Democratic National Convention, Newsmax reported.
The Vice President’s pivot is strategic, aiming to garner support from moderate and independent voters in anticipation of her electoral confrontation with former President Donald Trump this November.
The bill, which encompasses a wide range of security measures, allocates a hefty $118 billion towards border security, designating $20 billion specifically for the construction of the border wall. This legislative move came after months of bipartisan negotiations among Senators James Lankford, Chris Murphy, Kyrsten Sinema, with contributions from an Independent senator and the White House.
Harris declared her backing for the bill last week, which not only supports the border wall but also includes aid for international allies such as Ukraine, Israel, and countries in the Indo-Pacific region like Taiwan.
However, Harris' endorsement has not been without controversy. It has been met with accusations of political inconsistency, especially from the Republican camp. Karoline Leavitt, former President Trump's national press secretary, vehemently criticized Harris’s change of position.
How much longer will the mainstream media allow Kamala Harris to hide and use staff to speak on her behalf? It's DAY 37 of ZERO interviews and Kamala's anonymous campaign sources are now claiming she supports President Trump's border wall — this is a preposterous and false claim. Kamala's RECORD proves she is pro-open border. She called the wall 'un-American,' a 'waste of taxpayer money,' 'medieval,' and said it isn't going to 'stop' illegal immigration.
Within the internal dynamics of Congress, Republicans have criticized the proposal for facing hurdles, particularly due to the reduced funding compared to what the Trump administration initially proposed. Senator James Lankford pointed out that the specifics of the bill echoed Trump's vision, which specifies building standards from the former administration’s policies.
"It requires the Trump border wall," Lankford told Axios. He elucidated that the bill mandates the exact specifications from previous years including location, height, and construction type to be adhered to.
Moderate shifts in key policies have characterized Harris' policy revamp this election cycle. Besides moving towards a more fortified border, she has also adjusted her stance on Medicare and fracking, aiming to extend her appeal across a broader voter spectrum.
Harris' team made efforts to clarify the details of the proposed security measures. They indicated that the provisions in the bill did not propose new funds for wall building but extended the allocation period of previously appropriated funds during the Trump administration’s final fiscal year.
This fine distinction highlights the ongoing debate over border security funding and its implications for U.S. policy and political alignment.
The ongoing developments reflect the complex landscape of U.S. immigration policy and security measures, where bipartisan support is just as critical as it is contentious. Harris' new stance has thus become a focal point, stirring discussions on political consistency and strategic maneuvering in the lead-up to the upcoming presidential election.
