Kamala Harris’ Sudden Border Crisis Stance Rings Hollow Amid Fentanyl Surge

Vice President Kamala Harris, who was appointed by President Joe Biden as the nation’s “border czar” in 2021, is now promising to tackle the rampant border crisis, including the surge of illegal fentanyl. However, her latest statements appear politically motivated, especially given her lack of meaningful action on the issue for years.

Harris recently visited Arizona, claiming she will “stop the flow of illegal fentanyl” across the southern border. The timing of her visit — coming as she ramps up her 2024 presidential campaign — raises questions about the sincerity of her newfound interest in border security. The fentanyl crisis, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of American lives during her tenure as border czar, has been largely ignored by her until now.

Despite holding the title of border czar, Harris rarely visited the border during her time in office, sparking criticism that she abandoned her duties as the situation worsened. From 2021 to 2023, more than 325,000 Americans died from drug overdoses, many of which involved fentanyl. Her decision to now suddenly visit border communities like Douglas, Arizona, seems more like a campaign stunt than a genuine effort to resolve the crisis.

Families directly impacted by the fentanyl epidemic have openly criticized Harris and Biden’s handling of the border. Anne Fundner, whose 15-year-old son died from a fentanyl overdose in 2022, told Congress that she holds Harris responsible for the crisis. Fundner pointed to the administration’s lax border policies as the main factor behind the influx of drugs, stating, “Their open border policies have led to this devastating crisis.”

Even Democrats are noticing Harris’ shifting stance on immigration. CNN’s Jake Tapper highlighted her inconsistency, noting that Harris supported decriminalizing illegal border crossings when it benefited her during the 2020 Democratic primaries. But now, with an eye on winning over moderate voters in 2024, she is suddenly taking a “tougher” approach.

Harris’ sudden pivot suggests that her focus is on winning votes rather than resolving a crisis that has plagued the nation for years. Her prior lack of action on the issue calls into question whether she will continue to ignore the border once the election passes.