Kamala Harris Gains Arizona Border Mayors' Support Amid GOP Criticism On Immigration Policy

Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday emphasized on the support she has received from mayors of border towns in Arizona, as a reply to the criticism from Republicans about her handling of illegal border crossings.

The 59-year-old politician underscored the backing from the mayors of Bisbee, Nogales, Somerton and San Luis, along with Yuma County Supervisors Martin Porchas and Tony Reyes, AP News reported.

While Porchas and Reyes were Democrats, other mayors were elected without party affiliation, but they come from left-leaning communities.

Somerton Mayor Gerardo Anaya had said, "I trust her to meet the needs of border cities and towns without taking advantage of us for her own political gain, like her opponent," AP News reported.

The city consists of about 14,000 people in the state's southwestern corner.

Harris' comments came a week after her promotion to lead the Democratic presidential ticket, following which she has been actively campaigning.

With less than 100 days until Election Day, Republicans are pointing out the border issue against her, just as they did with President Joe Biden before he stepped down from his position as the presidential candidate. Republicans claim Harris didn't do enough to stop illegal immigration in her role as Biden's "border czar."

Last week, House Republicans and some vulnerable Democrats voted to rebuke Harris for the administration's border policies.

As vice president, Harris managed diplomatic efforts to address migration issues in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. She also encouraged these countries to improve their border enforcement.

Immigration has been a key issue for Donald Trump since his 2015 campaign, as he described the border as out of control and a threat to national security and the economy. If re-elected, Trump promised to deport millions of undocumented people.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration aimed to create a long-term plan to tackle the root causes of migration from these countries.

Biden aims to both limit new arrivals at the border and create new legal immigration pathways. Last month, he introduced restrictions that limit asylum access when border arrivals hit a certain number. This angered immigration advocates, who argue it's similar to Trump's policies.

A few weeks later, Biden announced a new program for undocumented spouses of American citizens who have been in the country for over a decade, potentially offering them a path to citizenship. Border arrests have decreased since last December.