Harris campaign changes stance on border wall with Mexico

Lauren Taylor

IN A SURPRISING SHIFT, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE KAMALA HARRIS IS NOW PLEDGING TO SPEND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THE WALL ALONG THE SOUTHERN BORDER, A PROJECT SHE ONCE OPPOSED, CALLING IT ‘UN-AMERICAN’ DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

HARRIS IS ADOPTING A TOUGHER STANCE ON IMMIGRATION, ESPECIALLY AS HER OPPONENT DONALD TRUMP’S CAMPAIGN POURS MILLIONS INTO ADS ATTACKING HER ON THIS VERY ISSUE. HOWEVER, THERE ARE STILL SHARP DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HARRIS AND TRUMP WHEN IT COMES TO IMMIGRATION POLICY.

WHILE SHE’S PIVOTING TOWARD BORDER SECURITY, SHE REMAINS FIRMLY OPPOSED TO TRUMP’S PROPOSED APPROACH OF MASS DEPORTATIONS.

IN A SPEECH AT LAST WEEK’S DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION, HARRIS SAID SHE WOULD SIGN THE BIPARTISAN BORDER SECURITY BILL; A BILL TRUMP HAD ACTIVELY OPPOSED. SENATORS JAMES LANKFORD OF OKLAHOMA AND CHRIS MURPHY of CONNECTICUT NEGOTIATED THIS COMPROMISE, WHICH INCLUDED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO CONTINUE BUILDING THE BORDER WALL. 

LANKFORD MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE BILL FOLLOWS THE SPECIFICATIONS SET DURING TRUMP’S ADMINISTRATION, COVERING EVERYTHING FROM WHERE THE WALL WILL BE BUILT TO ITS HEIGHT. HARRIS’ TEAM POINTS OUT THAT THIS IS A FAR SMALLER COMMITMENT THAN WHAT TRUMP ORIGINALLY PROPOSED. THE BILL ALLOCATES $650-MILLION-DOLLARS TO THE WALL, COMPARED TO THE $18-BILLION-DOLLARS TRUMP HAD REQUESTED IN 2018.

THE HARRIS TEAM ALSO STATES THE BILL DOESN’T ALLOCATE NEW MONEY FOR THE WALL; IT SIMPLY EXTENDS THE TIMELINE FOR SPENDING MONEY THAT WAS ALREADY APPROPRIATED DURING TRUMP’S TERM.

AS THE POLITICAL DEBATE OVER IMMIGRATION CONTINUES TO EVOLVE, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP TO STAY INFORMED.