Vice President Kamala Harris faced criticism from Rep. Nancy Mace for her handling of the border crisis, despite her initial role as the "border czar." However, the White House and media outlets have rejected the "border czar" label, claiming Harris never held such a position.
In the face of a persistent border crisis, Vice President Kamala Harris has come under fire for her perceived lack of action. Despite her previous designation as the "border czar," White House officials and media outlets have recently sought to distance Harris from any responsibility for the situation.
In March 2021, President Biden appointed Kamala Harris to address the "root causes" of illegal immigration, a role widely interpreted as that of a "border czar." However, the White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, has repeatedly denied that Harris ever held such a position.
Kamala Harris' Border Failure: From "Border Czar" to White House Denials
Media outlets have echoed this denial, with many publishing articles explicitly stating that Harris was not the "border czar." Axios, PolitiFact, and other fact-checking organizations have also supported this claim.
Despite these claims, reporters have noted that news organizations previously referred to Harris as the "border czar." Some have suggested that the recent rejection of this label may be motivated by political considerations.
Kamala Harris' Border Failure: From "Border Czar" to White House Denials
However, both PolitiFact and USA Today denied any pressure from the Harris campaign and affirmed their independence as news organizations.
Journalists have also criticized Harris for her support of the Minnesota Freedom Fund in 2020, a group that helped convicted criminals get out of prison. During her presidential campaign, Harris posted on social media urging donations to the fund.
Kamala Harris' Border Failure: From "Border Czar" to White House Denials
CBS News attempted to refute this criticism, claiming that Harris did not donate to the fund herself. However, they acknowledged that her post encouraging donations remained live.
In 2019, GovTrack, an organization that tracks congressional voting records, ranked Kamala Harris as the "most liberal" U.S. senator. This web page has since been removed, prompting speculation that it was politically motivated.
In response to this, a New York Intelligencer columnist advised Harris on how to combat the "too liberal" label. Some media hosts have also portrayed Harris as a moderate candidate ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
The White House has not yet responded to a request for comment on these issues.
The handling of the border crisis and Kamala Harris' role in it have become matters of debate, with conflicting claims from politicians, media outlets, and fact-checking organizations. As the situation evolves, it remains to be seen how these events will impact Harris' political future.
