Donald Trump’s team has pushed back against claims that his rhetoric negatively impacts immigrants, instead pointing fingers at Vice President Kamala Harris for igniting frustration among migrants due to her so-called “amnesty policies”.
A recent KFF poll reveals that 40% of immigrants believe Trump’s policies and speech on immigration are damaging to their communities.
Alex Brandon/AP
This past June, the Biden-Harris administration introduced a policy that garnered criticism from Republicans, describing it as amnesty. This measure aims to protect countless undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens from deportation while granting them the ability to work legally.
Harris has also pledged to revive President Biden’s bipartisan border security bill, which seeks to increase the number of CBP officers and asylum officials. Unfortunately, this legislation was stymied by Senate Republicans.
As the presidential election draws closer, immigration remains a pivotal issue for voters. A poll from Redfield and Wilton Strategies found that 47% of participants trust Trump on immigration compared to just 36% for Harris.
Moreover, the KFF poll indicates that 55% of immigrants would fare better with Harris as president, whereas only 19% feel the same about Trump returning to the White House.
KFF President and CEO Drew Altman commented, “While social media often gets the blame for spreading misinformation, it’s actually candidates who amplify falsehoods about immigrants, putting them at risk.”
Trump has criticized Harris’s approach, alleging that her policies lead to increased crime, implicating incidents involving illegal immigrants. This comes as Trump declared that he would stop all migrant flights to Pennsylvania “immediately” if elected in 2024 during a rally in a crucial swing state.
At a recent rally in Indiana, he asked supporters if their towns have changed, implying they are now plagued by “lawless gangs”. Activists rallied behind Trump’s sentiments, chanting “Send them back.” Additionally, he has expressed intentions to begin mass deportations in states such as Ohio and Colorado.