Biden Appoints Harris As Point Person To Address Border Crisis — Critics Say She Is “Worst Possible Choice”

President Joe Biden has delegated the task of finding the solution to the ongoing border crisis to his vice president, Kamala Harris.

The Democratic president said that he appointed Harris as the administration’s point person in the planned talks with Mexico and other Central American countries — Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador — meant to find the best way to address the “root cause” of the unprecedented surge in migrants at the southern border in recent weeks.

Over 100,000 individuals were apprehended at the US-Mexico border in February alone, as the number of unaccompanied minors seeking to enter the country has ballooned to record highs — straining capacity at immigration facilities and had towns along the border crying for help as their limited resources run dry. 

Recent data suggests that more than 15,000 unaccompanied migrant minors are currently in custody at federal facilities.

Biden appoints Harris as point person for border crisis

The Biden administration has downplayed the border situation earlier, saying they had things under control and refusing to call the situation a crisis as critics panned the Democratic president for reversing Trump-era policies at the border which had worked to stop similar migrant caravans in 2019.

On Thursday, Biden blamed the Trump administration for causing the crisis to spiral in numbers expected to be the highest  in the history of the Department of Homeland Security.

“This new surge we’re dealing with now started with the last administration,” Biden claimed. “But it’s our responsibility to deal with it humanely and to stop what’s happening.”

He added: “This increase has been consequential, but the vice president agreed — among the multiple other things I have her leading and I appreciate it — agreed to lead our diplomatic effort and work with those nations to accept the returnees and enhance migration enforcement at their borders.”

Biden said he will also reinstitute funding for development projects and immigration enforcement in the “Northern Triangle” nations where most of the illegal crossers are fleeing harsh economic conditions. 

“She’s leading the effort because I think it’s important to put someone who, when he or she speaks, they don’t have to wonder about where the president is,” Biden said of Harris’ appointment as diplomatic liaison. “When she speaks, she speaks for me. She doesn’t have to check with me.”

The Democratic president noted that he received a similar assignment when he served as the vice president of former President Barack Obama — as he enumerated the qualifications of Harris as the former attorney general of California that Biden said “made her uniquely qualified to lead the administration’s efforts.”

In her statement following her appointment, Harris said: “As the president has said, there are many factors that lead [migrants] to leave these countries. While we are clear that people should not come to the border now, we also understand that we will enforce the law.”

“Because we can chew gum and walk at the same time, we must address the root causes that cause people to make the trek,” she added.

Harris said to be “worst possible choice” for role

Meanwhile, following Biden’s announcement of Harris’ role in his administration’s efforts to solve the persisting border crisis, critics called the VP the “worst possible choice” for the role — citing her earlier pledge to decriminalize illegal crossings during her presidential campaign.

Videos of Harris’ previous comments about immigration soon spread on social media.

“In 2018, Harris compared ICE officers to the KKK” — alluding them as terrorists.

During a June 2019 Democrat presidential debate, Harris also said she supports decriminalizing illegal border crossings into the country.

Harris also said in 2018 that she favors provide healthcare coverage for undocumented immigrants using taxpayers money.

Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, said Harris was “about the worst possible choice that one could make” to be “in charge of border security.”

“In no point in her career has she given any indication that she considers the border a problem or a serious threat,” Ducey said of Harris’ new role.

Former Acting ICE Director, Tom Homan also said Harris is the “worst pick” to lead the government’s response to the border crisis as he cited her history of favoring illegal immigration.

“When President Biden says [Kamala Harris] is the most qualified, I mean, seriously? What color is the sky in his world? Because you couldn’t get a worse pick. Look, she supports sanctuary cities, she wrote legislation to reward those who illegally entered into the United States,” Homan told ‘Fox & Friends’ on Thursday.

“She vilified the men and women of the Border Patrol during the last surge, saying they are mistreating immigrants. She’s an open borders advocate. She wants to abolish ICE and she compared immigration officers to the KKK during the Senate hearing, and you want to put her in charge of immigration enforcement on the border? I couldn’t think of a worse choice.”

Steeve Strange

Steeve is the CEO & Co-Founder of The Scoop.