Despite being tasked with addressing the border challenges, Harris has only spoken sporadically about the matter and has visited the border once. Her critics, anticipating a surge in illegal immigration, have been vocal in their disapproval, with some Republican officials invoking the derogatory term "border czar" to criticize her.
Harris's office, however, denies that she is responsible for the administration's border policy, emphasizing her focus on addressing the root causes of migration rather than directly handling the border. She has visited Guatemala and Honduras, emphasizing her commitment to addressing the factors that drive migration from the Northern Triangle countries.
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Her office did not release a public schedule for May 8-11. She swore in commissioners for an initiative on advancing economic opportunity for Hispanics and met with the House Pro-Choice Caucus leadership. Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas publicly appeared in the White House briefing room on the same day.
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In response to inquiries, the White House did not address Harris's schedule directly. Still, it highlighted her efforts to tackle the long-term issues contributing to migration while taking immediate action to address the border situation and expand legal pathways for migration. The administration has raised $4.2 billion to invest in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, aiming to create better opportunities in these countries and discourage people from leaving.
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Experts argue that while the border assignment is fair for a Vice President, it is sometimes misunderstood. Joel Goldstein, a vice presidential expert, explains that vice presidents, like presidents, are expected to handle challenging problems.
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In this case, Harris's role primarily focuses on helping the three countries involved in the Northern Triangle eliminate the conditions that drive people to migrate to the United States.
Despite this clarification, Harris has faced much criticism, notably as illegal immigration reached record levels in 2021 and 2022. GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley has been particularly vocal in criticizing Harris, citing her potential ascension to the presidency if President Biden cannot complete a second term. Haley characterized Harris as incompetent, citing her failures in foreign policy and border management and her perceived struggles with unscripted remarks.
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According to the RealClearPolitics average, opinion polls reflect public sentiment, with Harris's favorability rating at 38.7% and an unfavorability score of 54.2%. Her ratings are worse than those of President Biden and Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida and are roughly in line with former President Donald Trump.
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While Harris has been more vocal about abortion rights in response to the Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, her engagement with the border issue has been limited. The Biden administration has faced challenges in managing the border, with the President's approval rating on the issue standing at just 35.2%, lower than his overall approval rating. However, illegal immigration tends to be a more salient issue for Republicans than Democrats.