Vice President Kamala Harris has garnered endorsements from mayors of border towns in swing-state Arizona in an effort to counter Republican criticism of her approach to illegal border crossings. The mayors of Bisbee, Nogales, Somerton, and San Luis, along with Yuma County Supervisors Martin Porchas and Tony Reyes, have expressed their support for Harris.
As Harris kicks off her campaign and refines her message to voters with less than 100 days until Election Day, Republicans are aiming to make the border a political liability for her, similar to the challenges faced by President Joe Biden during his reelection campaign.
Republicans have accused Harris of not taking sufficient action to address illegal immigration in her role as Biden's 'border czar.' Last week, House Republicans and some vulnerable Democrats voted to criticize Harris over the administration's border policies.
The endorsements from border town mayors in Arizona, part of a broader group of supporters Harris plans to unveil, serve as a response to such criticism, particularly in the only swing state that shares a border with Mexico.
One of the endorsing mayors, Gerardo Anaya of Somerton, emphasized his trust in Harris to address the needs of border cities and towns without exploiting them for political gain.
During her tenure as vice president, Harris was responsible for overseeing diplomatic efforts to address migration issues in the Northern Triangle countries and urging them to enhance border enforcement. The Biden administration aimed to establish a long-term strategy to tackle the root causes of migration from these nations.
Immigration has been a focal point of former President Trump's political platform, with a focus on border security and national sovereignty. Biden has pursued a dual approach of tightening border controls for new arrivals while also creating new pathways for immigration.
Recent data shows a decrease in border arrests from peak levels recorded last December, indicating some impact of the administration's policies.
