25 JUNE 2021

Immigration Hub Releases Statement on VP Harris Trip to Border

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Below is a statement from Sergio Gonzales, Executive Director of the Immigration Hub, on Vice President Kamala Harris and DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ trip to visit the southern border today. 

“I’m honestly curious what Republicans thought they were going to accomplish by making the border their entire focus when it comes to immigration. From what we saw today on Vice President Harris’ visit to El Paso — and expect to see next week when former President Trump and House Republicans visit the border — it would be the last thing you’d think they want to talk about. Trump and Republicans spent four years ripping families apart, creating inhumane conditions, and actively worsening an immigration system that was already failing. While in El Paso today, the Vice President and Secretary Mayorkas saw first hand the human and systemic damage inflicted by Trump and Stephen Miller’s cruel and racist immigration policies, and the progress already made to undo it. 

“The Biden-Harris Administration has had to both undo the damage done by Trump while also taking on the work to create an orderly, safe, and humane immigration system. And, they have taken a whole-government approach to immigration because, unlike the previous administration, they know the interconnected and complex challenges can only be met by a coordinated and thoughtful response. The Vice President’s trip to the border is the clearest signal yet that this Administration knows the Vice President’s work to address the root cause of immigration from Central America is connected to Secretaries Mayorkas’ and Becerra’s work to create a safe, orderly and humane immigration system, including at our southern border. Their work to manage migration to the United States and create a safer, fairer and more humane immigration system is good for our nation and is exactly what the American people are looking for. While much work remains to be done, such as the repeal of Trump’s harmful Title 42 policy, important progress has been made.

“Today’s trip was about solutions, something we do not expect will be a focus of former President Trump and House Republicans' trip to the border next week. With a record of obstruction, politicization and dog whistles, it is clear the GOP intends to continue to cater to the one-term failure that is Donald Trump.

“So, if Republicans want to stage political theater at the border with Trump as their main star, they can. But, the American people see it for what it really is: racist, politically unpopular and a crappy sequel featuring a fired reality star.”

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The Immigration Hub is a national organization dedicated to advancing fair and just immigration policies through strategic leadership, innovative communications strategies, legislative advocacy and collaborative partnerships.