Immigration has become a key issue in the current election, and experts say that Republican rhetoric is pushing Democrats further to the right.
Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that immigrants are to blame for rising crime rates and that the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border is out of control. His comments, made at campaign events, in interviews, and in advertisements, have focused on the idea of a border crisis.
Vice President Kamala Harris, on the other hand, is promoting her plans to “strengthen border security” and set stricter rules for asylum eligibility.
“We know that whatever the outcome in November, we have a lot of work ahead,” said Erik Cruz Morales, policy and advocacy manager at the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. “We need to push for solutions to fix the broken immigration system. Immigrants are not criminals, and they are not here to take resources.”
According to state data, nearly one-quarter of New Jersey’s population is foreign-born. Research shows that immigrants, regardless of their legal status, contribute to programs like Social Security through their taxes. Immigration advocates say that the policies coming out of Washington will directly affect New Jersey.
“We need to make sure everyone, including elected officials, understands what’s at stake for our community,” said Eliana Fernandez, organizing director at Make the Road New Jersey.
Trump’s Immigration Focus
Immigration is a central issue in Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. However, many immigration advocates believe his rhetoric has become even more harmful. For example, his comments about Haitian immigrants during a September debate and his claim that immigrants are “poisoning the blood” of America have raised concerns.
“I think this kind of rhetoric only deepens the divide in the country,” said Fernandez. “Instead of focusing on policy solutions, we are hearing more division.”
Trump’s main immigration policy focuses on mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, a proposal he first made during his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. Data from The Associated Press shows that deportations during Trump’s presidency never exceeded 350,000 annually. The largest number of deportations in U.S. history—432,000—occurred under President Barack Obama in 2013.
For 2024, Trump has promised to call on the National Guard to help deport undocumented immigrants and said he would invoke the Aliens Enemies Act of 1798. This law allows the deportation of noncitizens from countries the U.S. is at war with and was used during World War II to incarcerate Japanese, German, and Italian Americans.
Trump has also promised to limit the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, which lets immigrants stay in the U.S. if conditions in their home countries are unsafe. He also wants to revive a policy similar to his 2017 travel ban, which blocked people from several predominantly Muslim countries from entering the U.S.
“The American people want results. President Trump will act to deport illegal immigrants and secure the border on day one,” said Trump press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Deportation Support Among Trump Voters
Trump’s push for mass deportations appeals to his voter base. A recent Pew Research Center poll found that 88% of Trump supporters favor deportations, compared to just 27% of Harris supporters. The same poll revealed that many Trump voters believe that increasing immigrant populations would make life worse.
“These tough immigration policies from Trump and other Republican lawmakers are moving the conversation further right,” said Cruz Morales. “But we’re also seeing a shift among Democrats on immigration.”
A Shift in Democratic Immigration Policy
Cruz Morales pointed out that Democratic officials once advocated for a “humane pathway to citizenship” for families with mixed immigration statuses, but this has changed. Under President Biden, the administration has implemented stricter policies, especially regarding asylum seekers.
Border crossings rose during Biden’s first two years in office, reaching a high in December 2023. However, experts say recent declines in border crossings are due to Mexico’s actions and Biden’s tougher asylum policies.
Harris’s Changing Position
Harris has also adjusted her stance on immigration since the 2020 election. Back then, she promised to create pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and to close private detention centers. However, her current focus includes a bipartisan border security bill that would increase funding for border patrol agents, detention facilities, and drug technology, as well as support for building a southern border wall.
Harris has argued that the bill failed because Trump worked to block it. “Donald Trump got on the phone and told Congress to kill the bill,” she said during a September presidential debate.
Harris still supports citizenship pathways but has become more vocal about the need for stronger border security, citing her experience as California’s attorney general, where she prosecuted drug cartels and human traffickers.
Trump, however, has criticized Harris, calling her a failed “border czar,” even though her role as vice president doesn’t include direct oversight of border security. Biden assigned Harris to address the root causes of migration, including by fostering public and private investment in Central America.
The White House has secured over $5.2 billion in investments to the region, with plans to create jobs, support education, and combat human trafficking. Yet, Harris has not focused on these initiatives during her campaign.
The Future of Immigration Reform
Despite the differences in their positions, immigration advocates believe that there is still potential for reform under Harris, especially compared to Trump’s plans for mass deportations. While Trump pushes for tougher restrictions, Harris has reiterated her commitment to fixing the immigration system, which has not seen comprehensive reform in decades.
“Immigrants have always been a part of this country,” said Fernandez. “It’s time to shift the narrative, to stop criminalizing immigrants and start embracing them as part of the American fabric.”
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