Vice President Kamala Harris has been facing increasing criticism for her perceived avoidance of the immigration issue since she was tasked with addressing border migration in March 2021.

Harris's reluctance to engage directly with the border crisis has become a focal point of detractors as she campaigns for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination, as Axios reports.

In March 2021, President Joe Biden assigned Harris the responsibility of addressing the root causes of migration to the U.S.-Mexico border.

However, since then, Harris's involvement in the issue has been minimal, according to multiple reports.

Congressman’s Concerns Over Unanswered Requests

On Aug. 18, the New York Times reported that Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Texas, made several attempts to reach out to Harris's team to discuss border security but received no response.

Cuellar, whose district is significantly affected by border issues, expressed frustration over the lack of engagement from the vice president's office.

“I don’t want to say I told you so, but it did happen the way I said it would happen,” Cuellar stated, referring to the continued high levels of illegal border crossings. He added, “I think anyone that’s dealt with this issue knows that it’s a very difficult issue, and I do think she distanced herself.”

Questions Surround Harris’s Past Record

President Biden's chief of staff, Ron Klain, acknowledged the difficulty in finding evidence of Harris’s involvement in border issues during her previous role as California’s attorney general. Klain mentioned the challenges in locating any substantial records or images that would confirm Harris's past engagement with immigration matters.

Since being given the responsibility in 2021, Harris proposed addressing the root causes of migration as a long-term solution. However, progress on this front has been slow, with critics pointing to the continuing high numbers of migrants attempting to cross the southern border.

Immigration Policy Managed by Mayorkas

While Harris has been criticized for her lack of direct involvement, Alejandro Mayorkas, Homeland Security secretary, has taken the lead on immigration policy. Mayorkas, supported by pro-migration investors and donors such as Mark Zuckerberg's FWD.us advocacy group, has been responsible for managing the complex and contentious issue.

Under Mayorkas's watch, the administration has implemented policies that have opened quasi-legal pathways for economic migrants, allowing millions into the U.S. through what critics describe as loopholes. Despite the criticism, Mayorkas has defended these policies, emphasizing the need for a humanitarian approach to immigration.

Political Pressures and Ideological Stances

The debate over immigration has been further complicated by the ideological stance of the Democratic Party, which has generally opposed strict border control measures. Mark Krikorian, an immigration policy expert, suggested that the Biden administration faced significant political pressure from its base, including donors and activists, to avoid taking harsher actions on immigration.

Krikorian pointed out that the administration’s reluctance to enforce stricter border policies stemmed from this ideological divide within the party, making it difficult to take decisive action.

Harris's Approach to Border Security

Despite the ongoing criticism, Harris has maintained her commitment to a more humane and orderly immigration system. In June 2021, she stated, “The president and I are absolutely committed to ensuring that our immigration system is orderly and humane, and I do believe that we are making progress in that regard.”

However, her proposed solutions have been seen as insufficient by some. While she advocates for hiring more border guards if elected, she has not committed to reducing the number of migrants entering the country through the quasi-legal pathways created under Mayorkas’s policies.

Conclusion: Ongoing Scrutiny Over Border Policies

Vice President Kamala Harris’s handling of the immigration issue continues to draw scrutiny as the 2024 presidential election approaches.

Her limited engagement with the border crisis, coupled with the administration’s broader challenges in managing immigration, has become a central point of debate. With ongoing high levels of illegal border crossings and the influence of pro-migration donors, the effectiveness of the current approach remains a contentious issue within the Democratic Party.

As the election draws nearer, Harris's stance on immigration will likely remain under the spotlight, with both critics and supporters weighing in on her record and proposed policies.