Intense Battle Over Immigration Policies on the Campaign Trail.
The immigration debate has become a central focus of the campaign trail, particularly between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Each candidate has distinct views on how to handle immigration and border security.
Trump has emphasized immigration as a key issue, frequently diverting discussions during debates to address it. He has called for using the National Guard and local police to carry out mass deportations, claiming that his second term would initiate “the largest deportation operation in American history.”
However, Trump’s rhetoric includes several false claims about migrants, such as a conspiracy theory alleging that Haitian migrants were abducting and eating pets in Springfield, Ohio.
In contrast, Harris has adopted border restrictions that some Democrats have previously avoided. She stresses the importance of maintaining limits on asylum while advocating for a pathway to citizenship for certain migrants.
Candidates’ Stances on Immigration
A stalled bipartisan border deal highlights the candidates’ commitments. Harris supported this deal, which Trump rejected. The proposal aimed to impose new limits on asylum, a measure later adopted by the Biden administration. Under this plan, asylum protections would be restricted if a specified number of migrants crossed the border at unauthorized points.
The deal also included $20 billion to enhance border resources, including hiring 1,500 additional agents—something the already overburdened Border Patrol believes is essential for border security.
The deal emerged from Republican demands to link border security legislation with foreign aid and was partly drafted by conservative Senator James Lankford from Oklahoma. However, negotiations collapsed when Trump publicly criticized the deal, calling it a “great gift to the Democrats.”
Harris remarked during a September debate, “You know what happened to that bill? Donald Trump got on the phone, called some folks in Congress, and said kill the bill. He preferred to run on a problem instead of fixing it.”
Trump has promised that if he returns to office, he would follow a similar approach to the bill he killed. This includes barring migrants from seeking asylum if they cross between ports of entry. He also vows to raise salaries for border agents by 10 percent and hire 10,000 more border officers.
Additionally, Trump plans to end birthright citizenship for children born to non-American parents and suspend “chain” migration, which allows U.S. citizens to bring family members into the country. He has also indicated that he would revoke the temporary status that allows Haitian migrants to remain in the U.S. and pause all refugee admissions.
Trump’s Immigration Record
Trump’s immigration policies during his presidency provide a clear picture of his stance. He attempted a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims” entering the country through three executive orders, two of which were blocked in court.
Under his administration, the Department of Homeland Security enforced a family separation policy, which resulted in approximately 4,000 children being taken from their parents. As of April, over 1,000 children had yet to be reunited with their families.
Trump also implemented the “Remain in Mexico” policy, requiring asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their claims were processed, complicating their access to U.S. immigration courts.
The number of refugees processed during Trump’s term dropped each year, as his administration continuously lowered the refugee admission goals. He also attempted to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provides work permits for undocumented individuals brought to the U.S. as children.
Furthermore, Trump broadened the definition of “public charge,” making it harder for those who might rely on public assistance programs to immigrate. He also promoted the construction of a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, but only 52 miles of the 458 miles built were new structures.
Overlap in Asylum Policies
While Trump has criticized the Biden-Harris administration for its handling of the border, both have imposed significant restrictions on asylum.
In 2020, Trump enacted Title 42, which used the pandemic as a reason to prevent migrants from seeking asylum. This policy was ineffective, as it led many migrants to attempt repeated crossings. It also contradicted U.S. and international laws that protect the right to seek asylum.
Despite this, President Biden continued to enforce Title 42 for a period, expelling more migrants than Trump did. The policy was lifted in May of last year, but Biden then limited the ability to seek asylum after crossing at unauthorized points, a method allowed by law.
Biden’s short-lived policy faced legal challenges. The Biden-Harris administration later implemented key features of the rejected bipartisan border plan through rulemaking. A recent rule restricts asylum access for those who cross between ports of entry if border crossings exceed an average of 2,500 per week. Asylum processing would only resume when daily crossings average below 1,500 for 28 consecutive days.
The Biden administration views this policy as successful, citing a reduction in border crossings since its initial implementation in June. However, immigration advocates have criticized it as cruel and illegal, arguing that it undermines the legal right to seek asylum.
Harris’s Immigration Approach
Harris has asserted that her administration would not merely continue Biden’s policies. She emphasizes the need for a balanced approach, combining border security with immigration pathways. “I reject the false choice that suggests we must choose either between securing our border and creating a system that is orderly, safe, and humane,” she stated during a visit to the border in September. “We can and we must do both.”
Harris has been actively involved in efforts to address migration from Central America, advocating for investments to improve local economies and combat crime and corruption.
During her 2020 campaign, Harris adopted a more lenient stance on immigration. She proposed closing detention centers and establishing pathways to citizenship for undocumented individuals, including DACA recipients.
Although her current position is less expansive regarding pathways for all undocumented migrants, she has prioritized citizenship for “Dreamers” and farm workers. In a recent town hall on Univision, she identified a pathway to citizenship for “Dreamers” as a key priority.
Related topics:
- Vance Promises to Cut Programs for Legal Immigrants
- Study Finds Immigrants Are More Willing to Join the Military
- Americans Divided Over Placing Immigrants in Military-Style Camps
