(HEMET, Calif.) — Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump sparred over immigration during the Sept. 10 presidential debate, with Trump accusing Biden-Harris of lax border security and Harris accusing Trump of blocking a bill that would have increased security. Some Californian voters were not impressed.
During the debate, moderator and ABC News anchor David Muir asked Harris why the Biden administration waited six months before the election to tighten asylum restrictions, reducing illegal border crossings, and what Harris would do differently going forward.
Harris said she supported the bipartisan border bill that would have put 1,500 more border agents to help the workers that are there currently and that it would help stem the flow of fentanyl crossing the border. Harris said the bill was created and supported by some of the most conservative members of the United States Senate but was ultimately killed by Trump who publicly protested the bill and called on Senate members to vote against it.
In response to Muir’s immigration question, Harris said, “I believe you deserve a president who actually puts you first. And I pledge to you that I will.”
Following the debate, some California voters shared their thoughts with The Click on Harris’s immigration-related statements
“Harris’s stance on immigration reveals the disappointing right-wing shift of her party,” said Nathan San Filippo, a 28-year-old teacher and Harris supporter who was not impressed with her response. “She’s clearly taken this direction to reach moderate and undecided voters in the country.”
“Most fentanyl is transported by Americans, for Americans,” he added. “I fail to see how detaining children and mothers in border prisons addresses this issue.”
During the debate, Trump was questioned on how he would handle immigration, such as his threat of deporting an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants. He responded by commenting on the Biden-Harris administration’s actions.
“They allowed criminals. Many, many millions of criminals. They allowed terrorists. They allowed common street criminals. they allowed people to come in, drug dealers, to come in our country and they’re now in the United States.”
His statement insinuating lack of border control leading to an increase in crime during the Biden Administration’s term is echoed by Michelle Cline, a registered California voter who does not believe Harris’s future immigration promises.
“She doesn’t have strength on the border,” said Cline.
On Oct 7, mail-in ballots were sent to California voters and early voting began. The last date to register to vote in California for the general election is Oct.21.
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