In a fiery campaign stop on Thursday, former President Donald Trump intensified his criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris over the state of the U.S.-Mexico border, focusing on one of the Biden administration’s most pressing and politically sensitive issues. Trump’s speech, delivered in a key swing state, underscored his strategy to exploit what many see as Harris’s vulnerability on border security, as she has been tasked with addressing the ongoing crisis at the southern border.
Trump, the current GOP frontrunner for the 2024 presidential election, used the visit to hammer home his campaign’s border security agenda while drawing a sharp contrast between his administration’s tough-on-immigration policies and the perceived failures of the Biden-Harris team. The speech, held before a packed crowd of supporters, served as a reminder of Trump’s ongoing appeal to voters concerned about illegal immigration, national security, and the integrity of America’s borders.
During his speech, Trump did not hold back in his critique of Kamala Harris, whom President Joe Biden appointed as the point person on immigration early in his administration. Trump accused Harris of doing “absolutely nothing” to secure the border and claimed that her leadership—or lack thereof—has led to an unprecedented surge of illegal immigrants and drugs entering the United States.
“Kamala Harris has been a disaster on the border. She was supposed to fix this problem, but instead, it’s worse than ever,” Trump said to applause from the audience. “There are more illegal crossings, more drugs, more crime. The border is completely out of control under Biden and Harris.”
Trump pointed to the record numbers of migrant encounters at the southern border over the past year as evidence of Harris’s failed leadership. In fiscal year 2023, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported more than 2.7 million migrant encounters, a sharp increase compared to the numbers during Trump’s presidency. Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid responsible for tens of thousands of overdose deaths, has also been pouring into the country through the southern border, further fueling the crisis.
Trump contrasted his own administration’s achievements on border security with the current state of affairs. He touted the construction of over 450 miles of border wall during his term, the implementation of the “Remain in Mexico” policy, and agreements with Central American countries that helped curb illegal migration.
“We had the safest, most secure border in history when I was president,” Trump said. “We built the wall, we stopped the caravans, and we made sure illegal immigrants stayed out of our country. Now, under Harris and Biden, they’ve torn it all down, and we’re seeing the consequences.”
Kamala Harris has been under increasing scrutiny from both Republicans and Democrats for her handling of the border crisis. Appointed by Biden in March 2021 to lead the administration’s efforts to address the “root causes” of migration from Central America, Harris has faced criticism for being slow to act and for avoiding direct involvement in border-related issues. Despite making visits to Central America and Mexico to discuss economic aid and diplomatic solutions, Harris has been notably absent from the frontlines of the border itself.
Trump and other Republicans have repeatedly highlighted Harris’s lack of visibility at the southern border as a key failing, accusing her of abandoning her responsibilities and leaving the crisis to fester. Even some Democrats have expressed frustration over the administration’s inability to get a handle on the situation, which continues to dominate headlines and fuel political tensions.
“She’s supposed to be in charge, but she’s never at the border,” Trump said during his rally. “She doesn’t even want to talk about it. It’s a disgrace. Our country is paying the price for their incompetence.”
Trump’s focus on border security has long been one of the cornerstones of his political platform, and his latest speech reaffirmed his commitment to making it a central issue in his 2024 campaign. The former president outlined a detailed plan to restore what he called “law and order” at the border, should he return to the White House.
Among Trump’s proposed policies is the completion of the border wall, which he insists was instrumental in reducing illegal crossings during his first term. Trump also vowed to reinstate the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which requires asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases are processed in U.S. immigration courts. The policy, introduced during Trump’s presidency, was dismantled by the Biden administration, leading to what many critics describe as a flood of migrants into the United States.
“We need to finish the wall, restart the policies that worked, and get this crisis under control,” Trump said. “We need strong borders, and we need them now.”
Trump’s speech also touched on his promise to reinstate agreements with Central American countries to keep asylum seekers in their home regions, as well as his intention to boost law enforcement efforts at the border to crack down on human trafficking, drug smuggling, and other criminal activities.
“We will not let the cartels run our border. We will take back control of our country,” Trump declared.
As the 2024 presidential race heats up, immigration and border security are likely to remain key issues for voters. Polls consistently show that a majority of Americans are concerned about illegal immigration and the federal government’s handling of the crisis. Trump’s ability to leverage his record on border security could prove crucial in attracting voters in swing states, where immigration is often a top concern.
For Trump, the strategy is clear: keep hammering Harris and the Biden administration on their perceived failures at the border, while offering a starkly different vision for how to manage the crisis. With Harris widely seen as one of the more vulnerable figures in the Biden administration, Trump is seizing every opportunity to turn the border issue into a political liability for the vice president.
“We’re not going to let this crisis destroy our country,” Trump said as he wrapped up his speech. “We’re going to take back America, secure our borders, and put the American people first.”
As the campaign progresses, it is certain that Trump will continue to frame the border crisis as a central issue, putting pressure on Harris and the Biden administration to defend their record. Whether this strategy will help Trump regain the White House remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the battle over the border is far from over.