House Committee Seeks Documents on Harris and Border Crisis

The House Oversight Committee is launching an investigation into Vice President Kamala Harris' involvement in addressing the ongoing crisis at the southern border. The committee has formally requested that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provide any internal communications with Harris' office regarding illegal immigration. This inquiry aims to clarify her responsibilities during what Republicans describe as the "worst border crisis in American history." In 2021, President Biden appointed Harris to lead efforts in tackling the root causes of migration, including climate change, poverty, and violence in Central America. This decision led to her being labeled the "border czar" by various media outlets and critics. As the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee, Harris is now under scrutiny for her handling of the border situation, which has seen record numbers of encounters with migrants. Republicans attribute these figures to the rollback of Trump-era border policies and what they term "open border" strategies. The committee's letter criticized Harris' record on immigration, highlighting her previous comments advocating for a reformed immigration enforcement system and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. While CBP and Harris' office have not yet responded to requests for comment, there have been significant private-sector investments aimed at addressing the root causes of migration, totaling over $5.2 billion since May 2021. Despite a decrease in encounters from certain countries, the administration contends that Republicans have not provided adequate funding or immigration reform. Harris recently criticized former President Trump for his border security rhetoric, while Trump's allies have also targeted her during border visits.