In a straightforward discussion on the “60 Minutes” show aired on Monday, October 7, 2024, CBS News’ Bill Whitaker grilled Vice President Kamala Harris about the Biden administration’s evolving border policies. Harris was questioned about the initial adoption of more relaxed immigration policies, which were later replaced with more stringent ones.
Whitaker noted the significant drop in border crossings following the recent harsh treatment of asylum seekers. He further questioned Harris about the timing of these measures, inquiring, “If that’s the right answer now, why didn’t your administration take those steps in 2021?”
Responding to Whitaker’s questions, Harris clarified that the administration’s initial approach was to deal with immigration problems through legislative reform. She detailed their first bill to Congress, which aimed to overhaul the dysfunctional immigration system, underlining that true solutions would necessitate action from Congress. However, their proposal was not entertained by Congress.
Whitaker did not let up, drawing attention to the significant increase in undocumented immigrants crossing the border during the first three years of the administration. He conceded that the issue did not start under their tenure, but emphasized the unmatched spike in crossings in that timeframe.
Harris responded to his critique about her role in managing the border crisis. She cited her backing for a bipartisan border security bill proposed by Senate members, which she claimed was hindered by former President Donald Trump. Harris expressed, “Donald Trump got word that this bill was afoot and could be passed, and he wants to run on a problem instead of fixing a problem. So he told his buddies in Congress, ‘Kill the bill, don’t let it move forward.’”
“It’s a long-standing problem, and solutions are at hand, and from day one, literally, we have been offering solutions,” Harris responded.
When Whitaker pressed her on the unprecedented high number of crossings and whether earlier intervention could have been possible, Harris dodged the question. She opted to spotlight the recent steps that led to a substantial decrease in crossings and shifted the burden of action to Congress.
On the topic of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Harris took a shot at her opponent, saying that if Trump were president, “Putin would be sitting in Kyiv right now,” referring to Ukraine’s capital.
