Vice President Kamala Harris's past stance on immigration has come under scrutiny after a video resurfaced showing her protesting deportations in 2018.
As reported by the Daily Mail, the footage captures then-Senator Harris chanting against deportations alongside disgraced actor Jussie Smollett during a Los Angeles parade.
In the video, Harris can be heard enthusiastically chanting "Up, up with education, down, down with deportation!" while marching with a group of activists. The event, originally intended to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy, became a platform for various political causes, including opposition to immigration enforcement.
Harris's participation in the anti-deportation protest stands in stark contrast to her current role in the Biden administration, where she has been tasked with addressing border security issues. The video highlights the evolution of her position on immigration enforcement since joining the executive branch.
As Vice President, Harris has faced criticism for the administration's handling of the border crisis. Recent data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shows a significant decrease in removals of criminal aliens under the Biden-Harris administration compared to the previous administration.
The Biden-Harris approach to immigration enforcement has resulted in a 67% decline in removals of criminal aliens when compared to the Trump administration's first three years in office.
Adding to the complexity of the situation is the presence of actor Jussie Smollett in the video. Smollett, who was later convicted of staging a fake hate crime, is seen marching alongside Harris during the protest.
Harris publicly supported Smollett when he first reported the alleged attack, describing it as an "attempted modern day lynching" on social media. Despite Smollett's conviction, Harris has not deleted her tweet expressing support for the actor.
The Vice President said:
@JussieSmollett is one of the kindest, most gentle human beings I know. I'm praying for his quick recovery. This was an attempted modern day lynching. No one should have to fear for their life because of their sexuality or color of their skin. We must confront this hate.
The resurfaced video has reignited debates about the current administration's immigration policies. Critics argue that the significant reduction in deportations of criminal aliens poses risks to public safety and undermines immigration law enforcement.
Harris has recently criticized former President Trump's pledge to resume deportations of criminal illegal immigrants if re-elected. She warned of potential "mass deportation camps" and questioned the logistics of such an operation. In contrast, Trump has stated that his priority would be to swiftly remove criminal illegal immigrants, emphasizing the need to address unchecked illegal immigration for national security reasons.
The former president said:
We are not a dumping ground. We are going to get all those people out and we are going to get them out fast and we have no choice, because that is not sustainable by any country.
The resurfaced video and the subsequent policy shifts have sparked discussions about the consistency of political stances on immigration and the challenges of balancing humanitarian concerns with law enforcement priorities. As the 2024 election approaches, immigration policy is likely to remain a contentious issue, with both major parties presenting differing approaches to border security and deportation practices.
