Texas Republicans united to blast Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to the Lone Star State, framing it as a misguided political move that avoids addressing the ongoing crisis at the Texas border, Fox News reported.
Prominent state leaders, including Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, have claimed her immigration policies are linked to increased criminal activity, citing cases like the tragic killing of Jocelyn Nungaray.
“Border Czar’ Kamala Harris can come all the way to Houston where Jocelyn Nungaray was killed by Tren de Aragua gang members that she let into the country, yet she can’t be bothered to visit Jocelyn’s family or even say her name. Kamala Harris and her open border policies have allowed over 11 million illegal immigrants and dangerous criminals like TdA into our country, putting every American’s life at risk,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott told Fox News Digital.
Tren de Aragua is a Venezuelan gang that has wreaked havoc in other cities across the country, including Dallas and in Colorado.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also criticized her leadership, arguing that federal policy changes under the Biden-Harris administration have fostered more lenient immigration enforcement, jeopardizing local safety.
Vice President Harris, during her visit, plans to discuss abortion rights with Democratic Senate candidate Colin Allred, which Texas GOP leaders feel overlooks Texans’ concerns about immigration and security.
Abbott and Sen. Ted Cruz reiterated that a secure border is paramount for Texas, stating that the vice president’s approach fails to align with the state’s needs and values. Lt. Gov. Patrick said Harris should be visiting swing states instead of Texas, where her policy stances have been met with resistance.
Republican lawmakers, like Rep. Dan Crenshaw, underscored the discontent by referencing recent violent incidents involving undocumented immigrants, and Cruz called her partnership with Allred a showcase of “radical” policy alignment.
The GOP lawmakers’ disgust with Harris’s trip reflects partisan politics — along with a longstanding discontent with federal border policies.
Republicans argue the current administration’s border policies destabilize American communities and foster social unrest.
As election day nears, Texas Republicans continue to push for stronger immigration policies, stating their belief that Harris’s presence only emphasizes the disconnect between her policies and Texas voters’ priorities.