During the 2024 campaign, Vice President Harris not distanced herself in any way from the Biden administration’s approach to border security, which created the largest wave of illegal immigration in U.S. history (SOURCE). Instead, she has pointed to the failed bipartisan “Lankford bill” as the enforcement policy she would institute as president. That bill would codify the Biden adminsitration’s executive approach to enforcement into law. Harris says, “I will make sure that it comes to my desk, and I would sign it.” SOURCE, SOURCE, SOURCE, SOURCE, SOURCE

After being elected to the vice presidency, Harris was appointed by President Biden “to lead our efforts with Mexico and the Northern Triangle, and the countries that can help, need help in stemming the movement of so many folks, stemming the migration to our southern border.” This was also known as the Biden administration’s “root causes” approach to ending the border crisis. (SOURCE, SOURCE). In this role, Harris wrongly stated that “the border is secure” (SOURCE), while also encouraging would-be illegal economic migrants to avoid coming to the U.S. – Mexico border: “At the same time, I want to be clear to folks in this region who are thinking about making that dangerous trek to the United States-Mexico border, do not come. Do not come. The United States will continue to enforce our laws and secure our border. There are legal methods by which migration can and should occur, but we, as one of our priorities, will discourage illegal migration. And I believe if you come to our border, you will be turned back.” (SOURCE) In July of 2024, the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan non-binding resolution declaring Vice President Harris’ “root causes” policy a failure. The resolution concludes that “​​the continuation of the Biden, Harris border policies would be disastrous for both the United States and the American people.” SOURCE, SOURCE

While a U.S. Senator, Vice President Harris consistently opposed legislation to secure the border and end illegal immigration. SOURCE

While a U.S. Senator, Vice President Harris did not take any action, positive or negative, regarding E-Verify and she has not mentioned it during the current campaign. The Biden-Harris administration has taken no action to mandate use of the E-Verify system or incentivize its use.

During the 2024 campaign, Vice President Harris has not mentioned chain migration. However, she has reiterated her support for a pathway to citizenship for millions of illegal aliens (SOURCE), a policy that would lead to a chain reaction if the law is not changed (SOURCE).

While a U.S. Senator, Vice President Harris opposed S. 354, Sens. Tom Cotton and David Perdue’s RAISE Act, to end chain migration for non-nuclear family members (SOURCE, SOURCE), a key recommendation of the Jordan Commission (SOURCE).

Harris has not mentioned the visa lottery while vice president or during the 2024 campaign While a U.S. Senator, Vice President Harris opposed S. 354, Sens. Tom Cotton and David Perdue’s RAISE Act, to end the visa lottery (SOURCE, SOURCE).

While a U.S. Senator, Vice President Harris took action on at least ten pieces of legislation to expand the United States’ broken refugee and asylum system and make it easier for illegitimate asylum seekers (including illegal ecnomic migrants) to enter and remain in the United States. SOURCE, SOURCE

During the current campaign, Harris has not yet released an official platform or immigration plan and has not discussed interior enforcement.

While serving as San Francisco’s elected district attorney, Vice President Harris supported San Francisco’s sanctuary city policy, with her spokeswoman saying “The D.A. opposes any measure that would criminalize assisting immigrants… We are a sanctuary city, a city of refuge, and we always will be.” (SOURCE). However, during the furor over the city’s refusal to hand over a juvenile illegal alien criminal, Harris said the sanctuary law “was never intended to shield anyone from being held accountable for a crime. It’s intended to encourage immigrant victims and witnesses to report crimes without fear of reprisal so we can hold offenders accountable…. While detained juveniles are under the custody and control of the juvenile probation office and the court every city agency needs to work together to balance our obligations under federal law and the sanctuary ordinance to solve crimes and put the offenders behind bars.” (SOURCE).

Later, while serving as attorney general, Harris opposed proposed anti-sanctuary city legislation: “I strongly believe that serious and violent criminals—whether undocumented or not—should be held accountable for their crimes. But when local law enforcement officials are seen as de facto immigration agents, it erodes the trust between our peace officers and the communities we are sworn to serve… Criminal justice policy should not be conflated with national immigration policy.” (SOURCE). Also as attorney general, Harris undermined the intent and potential of the Secure Communities Program: “Secure Communities has not held up to what it aspired to be… immigration detainer requests are not mandatory, and each agency may make its own decision about whether to honor them.” SOURCE

While a U.S. Senator, Harris took action on at least twenty pieces of legislation to restrict or end interior immigration enforcement and make it easier for illegal aliens to live and work without fear of arrest and deportation (SOURCE). During her maiden Senate speech, she railed against then-President Trump’s enforcement actions and priorities:

“By fiat, [the president] wants to take away state and local authority, by making local police officers act as federal immigration officials…. And in recent days, we have seen an increased severity in immigration raids sweeping across this country, including the arrest of a DREAMer in Seattle and a domestic violence victim in Texas…. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss how these actions impact my state of California and our country. And in particular, the State of California I believe is a microcosm of who we are as America. In California we have farmers and environmentalists, welders and technologists, Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and the largest number of immigrants — documented and undocumented — of any state in the nation…. I rise because the president’s actions have created deep uncertainty and pain for our refugee and immigrant communities…. I rise on behalf of California’s more than 250,000 “Dreamers” who were told by the federal government — if you sign up, we will not use your personal information against you…. I rise to say, the United States of America cannot go back on our promise to these kids and their families…. And I rise today as a lifelong prosecutor and as the former top cop of the biggest state in this country to say these executive actions present a real threat to our public safety…. I know what a crime looks like. I will tell you: an undocumented immigrant is not a criminal…. But that’s what these actions do. They suggest all immigrants are criminals and treat immigrants like criminals…. And there’s no question, those who commit crimes must face severe and serious and swift consequence and accountability. But the truth is the vast majority of immigrants are hardworking people who deserve a pathway to citizenship…. Instead of making us more safe, these increased raids and executive orders instill fear in immigrants who are terrified they will be deported or have to give up information resulting in the deportation of their family members…. And these executive actions create a strain on local law enforcement. Any police chief in this country will tell you they barely have enough resources to get their job done in their communities. So when you make local law enforcement do the job of the federal government, you strain the resources for local law enforcement. And that hurts everybody’s safety…. And let’s consider, the economic harm this order will cause. Immigrants make up 10% of California’s workforce and contribute $130 billion to our state’s gross domestic product. Immigrants own small businesses, they till the land, they care for children and the elderly, they work in our labs, attend our universities, and serve in our military….” (SOURCE)

Before announcing her candidacy for U.S. President in 2020, Sen. Kamala Harris told MSNBC’s Chris Hayes that she didn’t believe in abolishing ICE, but she would prohibit ICE from deporting anyone who had not also committed a “serious or violent crime”:

“I believe that there needs to be serious, severe and swift consequence when people commit serious and violent crimes: one human being kills another human being, a woman is raped, a child is molested – there needs to be a serious consequence. And certainly if they are undocumented they should be deported if they commit those serious and violent offenses. So yes, ICE has a purpose, ICE has a role, ICE should exist. But let’s not abuse the power. Let’s not extend it to areas that are not posing a threat to the safety and the public safety of these communities….” SOURCE

During the 2024 campaign, Vice President Harris has not issued a policy statement regarding increasing or decreasing employers’ access to the global labor market. Shortly before stepping in as the Democratic nominee, Harris issued a statement on expiditing work visas and expanding economic migration: “President Joe Biden and I have worked to protect immigrants, keep families together, and expand lawful pathways to citizenship. Working with advocates and organizers from across the nation, we have rejected hateful attacks on immigrants, preserved and fortified DACA, increased access to affordable health care, and expanded economic opportunity.” SOURCE

The Biden administration, of which Harris is an integral part, has maintained that a labor shortage exists( SOURCE) and has consistently increased the H-2B cap to allow an additional 200,000+ workers into the United States. (SOURCE SOURCE SOURCE SOURCE SOURCE).

While in the U.S. Senate, Vice President Harris supported legislation to increase the H-2B cap and to “staple” green cards to the masters and doctoral degrees attained by foreign students. SOURCE

According to Vice President Harris’ 2024 campaign website, she supports “an earned pathway to citizenship. SOURCE

While in the U.S. Senate, Vice President Harris was a prolific supporter of amnesty in general and of amnestying “Dreamers” in particular (SOURCE) and made a point of supporting Dreamers and Daca-recipients during her maiden Senate speech (SOURCE).

When running for the presidency in 2020, Harris made amnestying Dreamers one of her priorities; her website at the time stated:

“As the child of immigrants, that’s the America Kamala Harris will build–and she doesn’t believe Dreamers should have to wait a moment longer. As president, Harris will take executive action to keep immigrant families together and eliminate barriers that prevent Dreamers from accessing a path to U.S. citizenship.

 

We estimate the plan will protect over 6 million immigrants from deportation, add up to $445 billion to U.S. GDP over ten years, and provide America’s 2.1 million Dreamers a path to citizenship if they have a congressionally-required family- or employment-based grounds to adjust status….

 

Every day we don’t act to protect Dreamers is a day our country is failing an important moral test. That’s why Harris will reinstate DACA immediately upon taking office…. Harris will also expand DACA by eliminating the requirement that Dreamers apply before they turn 31 years-old, raising the age at time of entry from 15 year-old and under to 17-years old and under, allowing little Dreamers under 15 years-old to apply for protection with parental or guardian consent, increasing the two-year term of DACA protection to three years, and updating the cutoff date for entry into the United States.

 

Parents of American citizens and legal permanent residents will be protected from the prospect of deportation, as will other law-abiding immigrants with ties to our communities. Under the plan, parents of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents will be eligible to apply for deferred action if they pass a background check and have lived in the U.S. since a specified date. The deferred action program will also be open to other law-abiding immigrants with ties to their communities and will consider factors such as service in the military, extended residence in the United States, and whether an individual has deferred action-beneficiary children, spouses, or parents. The program will be administered on a case-by-case basis and conform to the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act. It’s simple: Kamala believes we should not be tearing apart immigrant families. Unlike in the past, her administration will focus our enforcement resources on those who actually pose a public safety threat, not families, veterans, and individuals contributing to our communities.

Under the plan, parents of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents will be eligible to apply for deferred action if they pass a background check and have lived in the U.S. since a specified date. The deferred action program will also be open to other law-abiding immigrants with ties to their communities and will consider factors such as service in the military, extended residence in the United States, and whether an individual has deferred action-beneficiary children, spouses, or parents. The program will be administered on a case-by-case basis and conform to the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act. It’s simple: Kamala believes we should not be tearing apart immigrant families. Unlike in the past, her administration will focus our enforcement resources on those who actually pose a public safety threat, not families, veterans, and individuals contributing to our communities.

 

Dreamers will apply for the relief they need to obtain a Green Card and start the path to citizenship. Kamala will use every tool available via executive action to eliminate unnecessary barriers, including:

 

Kamala will use her parole authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to create a first-of-its kind “Dreamers Parole-in-Place Program.” Similar programs currently exist to unite families ravaged by earthquakes in Haiti and ensure families of service members can remain in America. This will allow Dreamers who have a U.S. citizen spouse to apply for removal of a technical bar that prevents many from obtaining a Green Card. Kamala will issue a rule clarifying Dreamers were not at “fault” for a lapse in their status. Currently, the INA is interpreted as barring many Dreamers from adjusting their immigration status because they’ve failed “to maintain continuously a lawful status since entry.” However, the INA includes an exception for immigrants whose inability to maintain status was, according to the statute, due to “no fault of [their] own.” Harris will issue a rulemaking clarifying the term “no fault of [their] own” includes being brought to the U.S. as a child. Harris will direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to retroactively grant work authorization to DACA recipients. Another clause of the INA bars Dreamers from adjusting their immigration status if they have “accept[ed] unauthorized employment.” However, the Secretary of Homeland Security, has statutory authority to grant work authorization. Harris will allow DACA recipients to apply for work authorization retroactively, just as past Attorneys General have done in the context of other inadmissibility grounds. Harris will provide relief from the 3- and 10-year bars faced by Dreamers and other deferred action recipients when they attempt to obtain a Green Card from a U.S. consulate abroad. The INA provides the Secretary of Homeland Security the authority to waive the 3- and 10-year bars in cases of “extreme hardship.” Harris will issue a rulemaking clarifying that separation from a close family member creates a rebuttable presumption of “extreme hardship.”” SOURCE

In June, 2024, Harris released a statement commemorating twelve years of DACA:

“Twelve years ago today, President Obama announced protections that have made it possible for more than 800,000 Dreamers to live, study, work, and raise families in the only home they have ever known. The story of Dreamers is a story of America. Dreamers across our Nation serve in our military, teach in our classrooms, and lead our small businesses as entrepreneurs. They are our neighbors, classmates, and loved ones. Their ambition and aspiration power our communities, economy, and country — and they deserve our protection. As the Attorney General of California and as a United States Senator, I fought to defend and protect Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). And as Vice President, I have worked alongside President Biden to preserve and fortify DACA, including by ensuring Dreamers have access to affordable health care, which will improve the health of all communities. While President Biden and I will continue fighting to protect Dreamers, only the United States Congress can ensure permanent protections for these young people and their families. Lawmakers must pass legislation that creates a path to citizenship. The time for a lasting solution is long overdue.” SOURCE

Vice President Harris has neither cosponsored nor voted for/against legislation concerning visa overstayers or implementing US VISIT and has never referred to it.

Vice President Harris has neither cosponsored nor voted for/against legislation concerning birthright citizenship and has never referred to it.

Throughout her political career, Vice President Harris has consistently supported efforts to 1) reward illegal immigration, 2) weaken enforcement, and 3) increase overall immigration and employers’ ability to bypass American workers. She has been a reliable opponent of Barbara Jordan’s vision of immigration reform. SOURCE, SOURCE, SOURCE, SOURCE, SOURCE,