Trump Posts Ominous Message About 'Kamala's Open Border'

 

Former President Donald Trump ramped up his rhetoric on illegal immigration by posting a provocative image on X, formerly known as Twitter, targeting Vice President Kamala Harris and her role in U.S.-Mexico border security.

The image, shared on Trump’s official X account and viewed nearly 5 million times, features a shadowy male figure holding a knife, menacingly approaching a woman in a dimly lit alley. The caption on the image reads, "No One Is Safe With Kamala's Open Border," a clear jab at the Biden administration's immigration policies and an attempt to cast Harris as responsible for perceived border insecurity.

Trump, along with other Republicans like Ohio Senator JD Vance, has often referred to Harris as Biden's "border czar," despite her not officially holding that title. President Biden tasked Harris with addressing the "root causes" of migration from Central American countries such as El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, but Republicans have seized on this role to criticize her handling of the border situation.

Throughout his campaign, Trump has frequently targeted Harris, portraying her as a key figure in what he describes as the Biden administration's failure to secure the border. In a recent summer attack ad, Trump accused Harris, now the Democratic presidential nominee, of "intentionally unsecuring the border," alleging that she halted construction of the border wall initiated during his presidency and took "more than 94 executive actions to unsecure the border."

In August, Trump intensified his attacks with a post on X listing claims that "KAMALA INTENTIONALLY UNSECURED THE BORDER." The post, which garnered over 5.5 million views, asserted that Harris opposes deportations and supports sanctuary cities that, according to Trump, harbor dangerous criminals. He also accused her of advocating for "mass amnesty" and providing government benefits to undocumented immigrants.

Harris has defended her role and the Biden administration's immigration policies, arguing for comprehensive, long-term solutions to address the underlying causes of migration. In a 2021 joint press conference with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei, Harris emphasized the importance of enforcing U.S. laws and securing borders, stating, "If you come to our border, you will be turned back."

The Biden administration points to increased funding for border security technology and personnel as evidence of its commitment to border safety. Officials also cite efforts to collaborate with Central American countries to tackle issues like poverty, violence, and climate change, which drive migration.

During a campaign rally in Atlanta, Harris countered Trump's claims, accusing him of only caring about himself, not the border. "Donald Trump talks a big game about securing our border, but he doesn’t walk the walk," she said.

Despite these defenses, Republicans maintain that the Biden-Harris administration has failed to effectively manage the border. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported over 2 million migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border in fiscal year 2023, marking a record high. Texas Representative Tony Gonzales, a Republican, recently held a press conference criticizing the administration's handling of border security, asserting, "The Biden-Harris Administration has forgotten us. They've abandoned us. We're on our own. We can either complain about the issue or roll up our sleeves and get to work."