Harris defends migration policy amid increasing border crossings

Vice President Harris pushed back against claims the Biden administration’s migration policy is no longer working despite increased border crossings, arguing the country is “seeing progress.” 

When asked by CBS anchor Margaret Brennan on “Face the Nation” if increasing illegal border crossings indicate migration policies are no longer working, Harris said, “Absolutely not.” 

“What it means is that we have to stay focused on a number of issues related to the irregular migration that again, we’re seeking around the world and America is not immune,” Harris continued. 

Recent data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) showed illegal border crossings increased by 33 percent in July when compared to the previous month.

Despite the increase, border crossings have fallen significantly since the Biden administration ended Title 42 – a pandemic-era policy that allowed border agents to quickly turn away migrants citing health risks – in May. 

When asked if she believes the strategy is working despite numbers being up, Harris said, “Overall, we are seeing progress, but there is – we’re not going to have a constant, there are going to be fluctuations.” 

“Just like the weather fluctuates and- and circumstances fluctuate, such as elections in those regions and what that might mean. It doesn’t mean that we keep our foot off the gas, we have to stay focused and understand there has to be a long-term strategy, as well as a short-term strategy,” the vice president continued. 

Harris said an increase in irregular migration is being reported around the globe, citing a various factors including an increase in authoritarian regimes, extreme weather occurrences, and increasing food insecurity. 

“So there are many reasons why this is happening and…America is not immune to that,” Harris said. “The point has to be then to understand what we must do to deal with, one, ensuring that we have a secure, humane and orderly policy about the border, but also what we must do in the long term to address the root causes of migration.”

Harris repeated this argument when asked if it was too early to say Biden administration’s migration strategy was working when the numbers decreased for two months. 

“My point is that focusing on root causes, and doing the work that we have been doing to bring U.S. investment into those countries, is a way that is supportive of their economies and supportive of fighting corruption, actually works,” she said.