Some mainstream media outlets are now attempting to downplay Vice President Kamala Harris’ role in leading the Biden administration’s border policy, despite having previously referred to her as the “border czar.” This shift in narrative sparked controversy following an Axios story on Wednesday, which claimed Harris “never actually had” the title.
Critics quickly pointed out a contradiction, referencing an April 2021 article on the same site that stated Harris was “appointed by Biden as border czar.” In response to the backlash, Axios issued an editor’s note admitting, “Axios was among the news outlets that incorrectly labeled Harris a ‘border czar’ back in 2021.”
They did all this knowing that there is a video of Biden declaring this although he didn’t use the exact words “border czar.”
The debate over Harris’ role is significant, especially as the Trump campaign works to link her to the administration’s border policy, a point of contention among voters. In March 2021, President Joe Biden tasked Harris with addressing the root causes of migration from Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico. He explicitly stated her role in efforts to stem the influx of illegal migrants at the US-Mexico border, emphasizing her qualifications for the task.
In addition to Axios, Time magazine published an article titled, “Kamala Harris Was Never Biden’s ‘Border Czar.’ Here’s What She Really Did,” arguing that Harris was never in charge of border or immigration policy. USA Today also ran a fact-check piece stating, “Harris’ border work was on ‘root causes’ of migration; she wasn’t in charge.”
These articles clarify that, according to immigration experts, Harris was not given control over the border but was instead tasked with leading diplomatic efforts to address the factors driving migration from Central America. Her first overseas trip as Vice President was to Guatemala, where she told migrants, “do not come” to the US, aiming to discourage illegal migration. However, as reported by The Post, approximately 8 million migrants have crossed the southern border since then.
Harris made a single visit to the southern border in El Paso, Texas, in June 2021. Sources present during the tour described it as a “rushed” and “sanitized” version of the situation, with efforts made to relocate as many migrants as possible before her arrival.
Now that issue is really giving Kamala problems and the DNC sent out talking points on how lawmakers are to answer questions. Fox News got their hands on one and they look very similar to the ones Biden uses.
Wow.
A Democrat lawmaker confirmed to FOX that Dems have received a piece of paper with talking points/lies about how to discuss Kamala Harris’ role at the Southern border.
They are already using the exact lines.https://t.co/CITguKLWCD pic.twitter.com/Bo8pxla61M
— Bobby Burack (@burackbobby_) July 25, 2024
