Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to a rally jammed with supporters in the battleground state of Arizona, touting Biden administration immigration plans. She underlined that the administration is deeply committed to founding an orderly and humane immigration system, as it works to deal with root causes of migration from Central America, meaning poverty, violence, and corruption. She said regional governments should cooperate with the United States in establishing the stability that would make it unnecessary to leave home countries. This, she added, is how there are going to have long-term solutions about what is happening with the U.S.-Mexico border.
Harris's visit comes as immigration is shaping up to be a defining issue in the elections, and the Latino vote is critical in the Southwestern state that for years has wrestled with immigration problems. Immigration policy is going to be huge in voters' decisions, particularly in such a critical state as Arizona, which has witnessed a good flow of migrants across its border. Harris's speech aimed to appeal to Latino voters and other communities impacted by the immigration policy, touting the administration's efforts toward striking a balance between security at the borders and compassion and humanitarian concerns.
She further defended the administration on how it has worked towards modernizing the immigration system and streamlining processes during the rally, such as through the use of technology and legal pathways that migrants could use. Harris pointed to the CBP One app to illustrate how the administration is working on more orderly and efficient processes for asylum seekers. The administration is hoping that providing a lawful, orderly path for people to come into the U.S. will discourage unauthorized crossings and allow it to better manage migration flows across the southern border.
Besides the issues at hand, Harris demanded bipartisanship to solve comprehensive immigration reform. She recognized that though steps have been taken, much remains to be done in terms of creating an immigration system that upholds the values of America with respect to fairness and justice. Harris called upon lawmakers from both parties to come together and pass legislation that provides a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, protects the Dreamers, and ensures border security.
The rally also afforded Harris a chance to connect further with the electorate on a personal level by sharing stories of immigrants who have had an impact on the American economy and society. Harris said immigrants have made a very positive contribution to the U.S. not only by being workers but innovators, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. Her message was quite clear: Immigrants are part and parcel of American fabric and need policies to show their contributions and humanity.
Her speech in Arizona thus became a means to engage voters across key states where immigration is of concern. As the Biden Administration continues wading through its immigration policies in Washington, Harris will be at the front of that policy as a voice—and how she shapes public opinion will be important in securing public support for Administration initiatives. The outcome of these efforts could likely influence the direction of U.S. immigration policy in the years ahead
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