Kamala Harris has been actively responding to Donald Trump's criticisms of her immigration record. Her campaign released a video in July highlighting her support for increasing the number of Border Patrol agents and criticizing Trump's role in derailing a bipartisan immigration deal that included stringent border security measures.
In June, the White House announced a crackdown on asylum claims to further reduce crossings at the US-Mexico border, a policy that Harris' campaign manager indicated would be continued under a Harris administration.
Trump's attacks on Harris are linked to her oversight of diplomatic efforts in Central America in March 2021, where she focused on long-term solutions while the Department of Homeland Security managed border security.
Although Harris has not extensively discussed her contributions amid the border situation becoming a political liability for Biden, she has made significant efforts to engage the private sector. She established the Partnership for Central America, facilitating collaboration between companies and the US government. This partnership has spearheaded initiatives leading to job creation in the region, with Harris also directly engaging with regional leaders.
Experts acknowledge Harris' success in securing private-sector investments as a notable achievement in the region. However, concerns have been raised about the sustainability of these investments in the long run.