Vice President Kamala Harris is preparing for a second visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, sparking significant criticism from Republican lawmakers. Scheduled for Friday, the visit will focus on the Arizona section of the border wall, a location that Harris has not previously toured.

Mail Online reported that Republican leaders have denounced the trip as an election-year stunt aimed at addressing voter concerns over immigration and border security, issues that have remained contentious throughout her tenure as Biden's "border czar."

Harris first visited the southern border in June 2021, but that trip took her to El Paso, Texas, where she toured a Border Patrol processing center instead of the physical border. Since then, Republicans have repeatedly criticized her for what they view as inaction in addressing immigration issues after she received the task of managing the root causes of migration.

Republican Lawmakers Voice Strong Opposition

Many GOP lawmakers have expressed frustration with the timing of Harris' upcoming visit. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) argued that the trip is too little, too late, citing the significant increase in illegal border crossings and unaccounted-for migrant children as evidence of failure on the part of the Biden administration. "I guess she found her compass. She knows where south is," Burchett said, referencing her delayed visit.

Florida Rep. Byron Donalds sharply critiqued Harris' visit, calling it "100% an election year stunt." He suggested that the trip is merely a publicity move designed to address her declining poll numbers rather than a genuine effort to tackle the border crisis. Donalds further criticized Harris for having "three and a half years to fix it" but failing to take meaningful action.

Meanwhile, Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) also weighed in, echoing Donalds' sentiments by calling the visit a "publicity stunt." She suggested that Harris is only visiting the border now because polling shows immigration is a losing issue for the administration.

Border Security Remains a Central Concern

The Republican backlash against Harris' upcoming visit reflects broader concerns about immigration and border security under the Biden administration. Since Biden took office, the number of migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border has surged, with Republican estimates placing the total between 10 million and 20 million.

Former President Donald Trump, who has remained an outspoken critic of Biden and Harris'  border policies, also commented on the upcoming trip. On his Truth Social platform, Trump asserted that Harris’ policies have allowed over 21 million unvetted individuals into the country, which he claims has caused "tremendous damage." Trump emphasized that Harris will pass miles of border wall constructed during his presidency, which he continues to defend as effective.

Criticism Grows as Election Nears

With the upcoming election just weeks away, Harris’ trip has garnered significant attention for its political timing. Republicans, including Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.), have suggested that the visit is politically motivated due to its proximity to Election Day. "I applaud Kamala for trying to get down to the border," Mills said, but he added, "it just seems very political, but better late than never, right?"

Mills’s comment reflects a broader sentiment among GOP lawmakers who believe that Harris’ visit aims at damage control ahead of the 2024 presidential election, where immigration is expected to be a key issue for voters. Critics argue that Harris’ lack of prior engagement with the border issue, despite her role as “border czar,” undermines the credibility of her upcoming visit.

Trump, Other Republicans Amplify Criticism

Other Republican leaders have echoed Trump’s criticism of Harris, expressing skepticism about the vice president's approach to border security. On his social media platform, Trump accused Harris of allowing unvetted migrants into the country, which he claims has led to criminal activities nationwide. He argued that her policies have significantly harmed cities and communities across the country.

Rep. Donalds questioned the sincerity of Harris’s upcoming visit, describing it as merely a photo opportunity to make it appear as though she cares about immigration issues. Donalds criticized Harris’ policies, claiming they have caused severe consequences, including human trafficking. He called for greater accountability, suggesting that the administration’s policies have placed young girls at risk on both sides of the border.

Public Reactions and Broader Implications

As Harris’ visit nears, public reactions remain mixed. Supporters of the Biden administration view the trip as a necessary step to address the ongoing border crisis, while critics argue that it comes too late to tackle the severity of the situation.

Immigration and border security are expected to dominate the upcoming election, regardless of political affiliation. Harris’s role as “border czar” has positioned her as a key target of criticism, with many Republicans using her visit to underscore what they view as the administration’s failures on immigration.

The debate over border security will likely intensify as Election Day approaches, with Republicans continuing to emphasize the surge in illegal crossings and what they perceive as the Biden administration’s inaction. Harris’ trip to the border will likely face scrutiny from both sides as a critical moment in the ongoing political narrative surrounding immigration policy.