The 2024 presidential election is heating up, with immigration consistently ranking as a top issue for voters. Amidst this charged environment, former President Barack Obama took to the campaign trail in Detroit to defend Vice President Kamala Harris’s record on immigration, challenging his Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, on his own handling of the issue.
Obama acknowledged that “immigration is a real issue at our borders,” but he pushed back on criticism of Harris for neglecting to address the surge in illegal crossings during her four years as vice president. He pointed a finger at Trump’s own record, questioning the effectiveness of his hardline policies and suggesting that Trump’s promises of massive deportations were mere rhetoric.
“Wasn’t Donald Trump president for four years?” Obama rhetorically asked the crowd. “Wasn’t he in charge before you? If rounding up and deporting millions of desperate people, many of them who are women and children, if that’s the answer to everything, why is it that the number of undocumented immigrants basically stayed the same when he left office?”
Obama’s comments come as the Biden-Harris administration continues to face intense criticism for reversing Trump’s restrictive immigration policies, which led to a significant decrease in illegal border crossings during his presidency. The administration’s approach, focused on a more humane and orderly process, has resulted in a surge in illegal crossings, particularly in 2021 and 2022.
However, Obama’s claim that the number of undocumented immigrants remained largely unchanged during Trump’s presidency is not entirely accurate. While Trump’s policies did result in a decrease in apprehensions at the southern border, this was largely due to the use of Title 42, a public health measure that allowed for expedited deportations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the challenges, the Biden-Harris administration has implemented measures to address the issue, including tighter restrictions on immigration and increased resources for border security.
While the debate continues over the most effective approach to immigration, the issue remains a major flashpoint in the upcoming election, with both candidates offering contrasting visions for the future of U.S. immigration policy.
