Vice President Kamala Harris Highlights Immigration Efforts Amid Ongoing Crisis.
Vice President Kamala Harris recently emphasized the Biden administration’s commitment to strengthening U.S. immigration policies. She referenced a significant immigration bill from 2021 during an interview with Fox News, asserting that it was a key part of their early agenda in addressing the migrant crisis affecting the U.S. over the past three and a half years.
Harris stated, “At the beginning of our administration, within practically hours of taking the oath, the first bill that we offered Congress was a bill to fix our immigration system.” This statement was made during her first interview with Fox News since President Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race in July, which positioned Harris as the Democratic frontrunner.
The bill in question, known as the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, aimed to provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants. During the interview, host Bret Baier pointed out that the bill essentially created such a pathway. Harris confirmed this, reiterating the administration’s commitment to reforming immigration policy.
The interview attracted considerable attention, drawing 7.1 million viewers, marking it as the most-watched interview of the 2024 election season.
Harris faced scrutiny from Baier regarding the administration’s reversal of Trump-era immigration policies after taking office. This included a policy that required the detention of undocumented immigrants while they awaited asylum hearings. Baier pressed Harris on whether she regretted ending the “Remain in Mexico” policy, especially given reports of serious crimes committed by undocumented immigrants during her tenure.
On their first day in office, President Biden introduced legislation intended to “restore humanity and American values to our immigration system.” The U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 aimed to modernize immigration practices and explicitly outlined pathways to citizenship while enhancing labor protections. However, the bill failed to pass and ultimately died in Congress.
As the Democrats unveiled the bill, the White House estimated that up to 11 million undocumented immigrants could gain citizenship through an eight-year plan, which would also benefit those deported under the Trump administration.
The bill stipulated that applicants must have been physically present in the U.S. by January 1, 2021, with provisions allowing waivers for those deported after January 20, 2017. It aimed to replace the term “alien” with “noncitizen” in immigration laws, reflecting a shift toward more inclusive language.
Additional provisions included immediate eligibility for green cards for farmworkers, recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. The bill also proposed increasing the annual green card lottery from 55,000 to 80,000 and exempting children and spouses from visa caps.
Conservative lawmakers criticized the bill as a form of amnesty, claiming it would undermine existing immigration laws and encourage illegal crossings. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell described it as a “massive proposal for blanket amnesty” that would weaken law enforcement while incentivizing illegal immigration. Senator Marco Rubio dismissed it as a non-starter.
Throughout her interview with Baier, Harris often diverted questions about immigration policies by shifting focus to criticisms of former President Trump. Baier began by inquiring about the number of illegal immigrants released into the U.S. under the Biden administration.
Harris acknowledged the importance of discussing immigration, responding, “It is a topic of discussion that people want to rightly have.” When pressed for specific numbers, she did not provide a clear answer.
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