You know things are getting spicy when the White House press briefing becomes a battleground over immigration issues. Recently, Fox News’s Peter Doocy challenged Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Vice President Kamala Harris’s involvement in the ongoing border crisis. It’s not like this situation needed more fuel, but here we are.
Peter Doocy’s Questions
Doocy asked Jean-Pierre how long Harris had been aware of the border crisis and what specific actions she has taken to address the problem. Let’s be real: these questions failed to elicit any concrete answers from the press secretary.
Context Around Harris’s Assignment
Let’s backtrack for a second. President Biden tasked Harris on March 24, 2021, with addressing root causes of migration. Consequently, Harris has been dubbed the Administration’s “border czar.” However, Chairman James Comer of the House Committee on Oversight is now investigating her role, questioning how effective she has been.
Comer’s Investigation
Comer sent a letter to CBP Senior Official Troy Miller requesting documents and communications between CBP and the Vice President’s office regarding the southwest border. Essentially, he’s looking to see if there’s any there.
Labeled ‘Border Czar’
Despite being labeled as the “border czar,” Harris’s approach involved diplomatic efforts like $5.2 billion in investments in Central America. The Republican Party has used this label to criticize her handling of immigration, a strategy they’re likely to continue as the general election approaches.
Vice President’s Stance
Harris has a history of opposing the border wall and criticizing ICE, calling for outdated procedures to be reworked. This has only added fuel to the fire, making her a prime target for GOP criticism.
Statistics to Know
Since the Biden-Harris Administration took office, over 8 million illegal aliens have been encountered at the southwest border, including over 1.6 million “gotaways.” We’re not talking insignificant numbers here.
Media Narratives Changing
Meanwhile, Jean-Pierre has argued that independent fact-checkers confirmed Harris was not a border czar. She stated that border crossings have decreased by 55%, crediting the actions by President Biden and Harris, not the Republicans.
Quote: “The GOP has increased its criticism of Harris, with the House of Representatives passing a resolution condemning her role on the border, supported by six Democrats and all Republicans.”
Strategic Shifts
House Republicans are shifting their focus from President Biden to Vice President Harris ahead of the upcoming election. After concentrating on investigating Biden and his family, they are now probing Harris to understand her role in the border crisis better.
I’m Kamala Harris, and I’m running for President of the United States. pic.twitter.com/6qAM32btjj
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 25, 2024
Detractors Speak Out
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has called the resolution criticizing Harris’s handling of the migrant crisis “fake and fraudulent,” accusing Republicans of fabricating the title “border czar” for Harris. Nevertheless, six Democrats supported this resolution, indicating some bipartisan concern.
Closing Remarks
In the grand show of Washington politics, accusing and investigating seems to be the name of the game. House Republicans, led by James Comer, are now zeroing in on Harris. If nothing else, it ensures that the scrutiny on the Administration’s handling of immigration remains a hot topic—something to definitely keep an eye on as the election season heats up.
