KEY IMMIGRATION TAKEAWAYS FROM THE 2024 UNITED STATES’ PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION DEBATE
Introduction – US Immigration Election Debate
Former President of the United States, Donald Trump, and the current Vice President, Kamala Harris, participated in their inaugural — and potentially only — presidential debate on Tuesday, 10th September 2024. Taking place at Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center, the one hour and forty-five minutes debate saw both candidates locking horns in defense of their policies. attacking one another and their policies.
The two distinguished political figures engaged in a vigorous exchange on a variety of critical issues, including abortion rights and immigration, as they endeavored to appeal to voters in a fiercely contested election.
Harris employed a strategy designed to provoke Trump, while Trump consistently resorted to what appears to be conspiracy theories and unsubstantiated claims often fact checked by the moderators from ABC news. The debate highlighted the significant differences in their approaches to leadership and their visions for the nation.
The debate was a pivotal moment in the 2024 US presidential election, providing an opportunity for both candidates to articulate their policy proposals, differentiate their perspectives, and engage in direct discourse with one another.
Highlights of Trump and Harris’ Position on US Immigration Election Debate
Throughout the majority of Tuesday evening’s presidential debate, immigration was a key topic prominently featured, with a focus on the failure of proposed border legislation, plans for deportations, and disputed allegations regarding immigrants in Ohio consuming the pets of others.
Donald Trump positioned immigration and border security as a central theme of his campaign, often extending the scope of his anti-immigrant discourse more extensively than in his previous election in 2016.
He outlined his plans for the presidency, including the completion of the US-Mexico border wall, the reinstatement of the “Remain in Mexico” policy, the enforcement of stricter asylum and deportation policies, and the execution of the most extensive domestic deportation operation in US history for individuals residing in the country without legal authorization. Furthermore, Trump pledged to enact an executive order to terminate the concept of birthright citizenship.
On the other hand, Kamala Harris defended the administration’s approach to the matter, particularly highlighting her efforts to address the underlying causes of migration from Central America. She has criticized Republicans for their opposition to a bipartisan bill aimed at enhancing asylum regulations and implementing other immigration-related restrictions, while also allocating more resources to facilitate legal immigration processes.
Harris expressed her commitment to advancing the bill and promised to sign it into law should she assume the presidency. Additionally, she advocates for comprehensive immigration reform that encompasses an earned pathway to citizenship.
Specific views on US Deportation
Kamala Harris’s Standpoint- Harris pledged to close private immigration centers, reduce deportations, and work on a citizenship path for undocumented immigrants during her earlier 2020 presidential campaign. She now supports a bill that would strengthen border security and asylum laws, aiming to close loopholes and limit parole for migrants. Her campaign team believes in enforcing immigration laws. At the Democratic National Convention, she emphasized the need for a fair pathway to citizenship and border security.
Donald Trump’s Standpoint– Trump expressed his intention to deport a large number of undocumented immigrants if re-elected, drawing comparisons to a 1950s operation. He plans to use expedited removal and more law enforcement to carry out mass deportations. Trump has also mentioned the possibility of using the military in these efforts.
Specific views on CITIZENSHIP FOR UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE
Kamala Harris believes in creating a new path for undocumented immigrants to become citizens by making it a process they can earn. She plans to revive a bipartisan bill on border security and sign it into law.
Harris thinks the current immigration system is flawed and needs to be fixed, including making it easier for undocumented immigrants to become citizens. She hasn’t shared more specifics about how this new pathway would work.
Donald Trump’s former cabinet member, Stephen Miller, helped shape his immigration policies, saying he will likely try to end DACA if he wins the election again. Trump lost a Supreme Court case in June 2020 that aimed to end DACA protections but has expressed interest in trying again.
Before that, he considered a compromise that would allow some undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children to stay if they met certain conditions. In 2018, Trump suggested granting citizenship to up to 1.8 million “Dreamers,” undocumented immigrants from childhood, in return for stricter immigration enforcement and fewer legal immigrants.
Specific views on SEPARATION OF MIGRANT’S FAMILIES
Kamala Harris criticized Trump’s policy of separating migrant families at the border as a violation of human rights. However, her campaign for the 2024 election has not taken a stance on this issue.
On the other hand, Donald Trump has hinted at the possibility of reinstating family separations, suggesting that the threat of separation might deter families from coming.
Specific views on ASYLUM AND REFUGEE PROGRAMS
Kamala Harris has not specifically commented on whether the US should stop allowing immigrants escaping persecution to seek refuge in the country. She supports the Biden-Harris policy of drastically reducing asylum access during high illegal border crossings.
Donald Trump however, aimed to suspend the refugee program, ban entry from Muslim-majority countries, and bring back the “Remain in Mexico program,” which made asylum seekers wait in Mexico for their cases to be resolved, and tried to send them to other countries, and also to restart the Title 42 border policy for public health reasons.
During his presidency, Trump reduced the US’s annual refugee intake to a significant low level (15,000 figure), expelled asylum seekers, and tried to prevent certain groups from seeking asylum by illegal border crossings.
Final Submissions US Immigration Election Debate
In his final statement, Trump mentioned immigration one last time, upset that Harris hasn’t addressed the border issue in her over three years in office. He wondered why she didn’t act sooner, even with enough time.
Harris explained the complicated issue of immigration and how public opinion shaped her strategy. When asked about why the Biden administration took so long to act after receiving a lot of migrants, she didn’t provide a clear answer.
She mentioned the reasons for fewer border arrests, including Mexican authorities’ efforts, summer weather, and the US asylum policies. Harris supported a big bill she believed would have significantly improved border security by adding more agents and resources, but it didn’t scale through because of Trump’s opposition by surrogates still in congress.
She criticized the need for a leader who focuses on solving problems, like her predecessor’s inaction on migration, which could harm the country’s stability. Trump blamed the failure of the bill on criticism from other countries, saying the US was in danger and made false accusations about immigrants harming pets in Springfield, Ohio.
The political landscape is heating up as the U.S. presidential election draws closer. Candidates are actively campaigning, political parties are firming up their strategies, and the electorates are gearing up to make their voices heard. To stay informed and ahead, be sure to check our news section regularly for the latest immigration updates and key developments as they unfold throughout the election season.
