Harris is stuck with immigration

Vice President Kamala Harris is apparently nervous about what the immigration issue might mean for her political future. CNN reports that while Harris is in charge of working with Central American officials to curb migration from their countries, her staff is trying to make clear she is not in charge of America's southern border.
Too late. Like it or not, Harris — and her presidential prospects — are stuck with the immigration issue.
The pitfalls for Harris were clear back in March, when President Biden announced that she would oversee the administration's strategy for the so-called "Northern Triangle" countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Even before Donald Trump came along to demagogue immigration, his predecessors tried — and failed — to enact reforms in the face of opposition from immigration hawks. The politics of the issue are tricky, even impossible.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Indeed, Republicans have been eager to refer to Harris as the "immigration czar," a term the Biden administration has never used. Harris' response has been to minimize the breadth of her responsibility — yes, she is in charge of dealing with Central American nations that are the source of much migration, but no, her mandate doesn't include the border proper.
That approach may be technically correct, but it isn't very convincing. The whole point of Harris' mission, after all, is to help curb the northward flow of migrants. Fix that, and the border takes care of itself. During his March 24 announcement, Biden himself said the vice president would "lead our efforts with Mexico and the Northern Triangle and the countries that … are going to need help in stemming the movement of so many folks, stemming the migration to our southern border."
"You can't divorce the border from Mexico or Central America or the interior of the US," a former Homeland Security official told CNN. "It is all one system."
That's right. Semantic parsing won't help Harris in what was always going to be a challenging assignment. Her only real hope now is to be effective in her mission, and to take credit for the results. Otherwise, Republicans will make sure she gets the blame.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Joel Mathis is a writer with 30 years of newspaper and online journalism experience. His work also regularly appears in National Geographic and The Kansas City Star. His awards include best online commentary at the Online News Association and (twice) at the City and Regional Magazine Association.
-
5 slow on the draw cartoons about Democrats' response to Trump
Cartoons Artists take on taking a stand, staying still as a statue, and more
By The Week US Published
-
A road trip through Zimbabwe
The Week Recommends The country is 'friendly and relaxed', with plenty to see for those who wish to explore
By The Week UK Published
-
The assassination of Malcolm X
The Explainer The civil rights leader gave furious clarity to black anger in the 1960s, but like several of his contemporaries met with a violent end
By The Week UK Published
-
Will Trump lead to more or fewer nuclear weapons in the world?
Talking Points He wants denuclearization. But critics worry about proliferation.
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Why Trump and Musk are shutting down the CFPB
Talking Points And what it means for American consumers
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Are we now in a constitutional crisis?
Talking Points Trump and Musk defy Congress and the courts
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
What can Democrats do to oppose Trump?
Talking Points The minority party gets off to a 'slow start' in opposition
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Palestinians and pro-Palestine allies brace for Trump
TALKING POINTS After a year of protests, crackdowns, and 'Uncommitted' electoral activism, Palestinian activists are rethinking their tactics ahead of another Trump administration
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine hints at end to 'hot war' with Russia in 2025
Talking Points Could the new year see an end to the worst European violence of the 21st Century?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published