Policy institute, border group hope Kamala Harris' El Paso visit will not be a political move

Vice President Kamala Harris' visit to El Paso Friday will be her first visit to the U.S.-Mexico border after being tasked with dealing with the root causes of migration from Latin American countries and many hope to see a display of policy over politics.

"It's about time that she's come," Fernando Garcia, the executive director at the Border Network for Human Rights, said, adding that he's happy she's finally coming to El Paso.

"This has been expected by border residents for a while, not only her physical presence, but the attention of this administration; the issues that we have at the border and more directly, the attention of of President Biden," Fernando Garcia, the executive director at the Border Network for Human Rights, said. "We hope that this (visit) is not a show or a political move. We hope she comes to listen."

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Plenty of immigration issues to address

Laura Collins, director at the Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative, said she recognizes the importance and dependence of immigration to the U.S. and Mexico. She said the most immediate issue she hopes Harris and other officials address tomorrow is how to process asylum seekers humanely and efficiently.

"I don't believe it's humane to let someone wait two or three years to find out if they will ultimately qualify for U.S. protection," Collins said, adding that it will take strain off law enforcement to pursue "actual criminal threats."

In February 2021, the George W. Bush Presidential Center, the nonpartisan, public policy arm of the Bush Center, released a 13-page report titled: Smart Border Policy for the 21st Century. Collins coauthored the report. The document highlights a "comprehensive management approach that balances security and non-security issues" to improving conditions at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Collins said the report was created after meeting with different experts regarding trade, security, immigration and Latin American study to "get a full comprehensive picture of the border."

"The border is about so much more than just security and migration," Collins, a former director of immigration policy at the American Action Forum, said. "In El Paso, the borders are about trade and travel and people going back and forth, some for school and for work, and families who have people on both sides."

The report outlines policy needed to increase free trade to improve economic opportunity in Latin America and the need for a secure border, but also addresses the necessity to provide more legal pathways to work in the United States, as well as providing more legal resources for asylum seekers. The report also highlights recommendation to create new positions and protocols to address the complex needs of migrant families and children.

"Asylum is a legal right," Collins said.

Garcia said he hopes Harris addresses ending Fort Bliss' housing of unaccompanied minors; ending migrant expulsions under Title 42, a public health law in use because of the COVID-19 pandemic; the number of migrants who died attempting to cross the border.

It is unclear whether the visit will be open to the public, but Garcia said BNHR will get their message across one way or another.

"If we cannot talk to her directly, we're gonna do it publicly," Garcia said about a march planned 10:15 a.m. Friday morning at the Paso del Norte International Bridge.

Joining Harris and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, will be U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

El Paso's Escobar hopes vice president will do 'a lot of listening and learning'

Escobar said the vice president's trip will be "bringing a commitment to understanding what's driving people from their home" by examining the root causes of immigration.

"My hope is that she speaks to migrants as well as the advocates who have been working with migrant communities for decades," Escobar said, adding that she hopes the vice president will do "a lot of listening and learning."

The trip comes days before former President Donald Trump is supposed to arrive to the U.S.-Mexico border after accepting an invitation from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

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Some Republican lawmakers have criticized Harris' decision to come because of Trump's visit.

"My invitation to her preceded any public knowledge of a Donald Trump visit," Escobar said.

Escobar said she spoke with her chief of staff at least 10 days ago.

The El Paso Times reached out to the Office of Condoleezza Rice and former Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff for comment, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

The Office of U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez declined to comment.

Anthony Jackson may be reached at ADJackson@elpasotimes.com and @TonyAnjackson on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Policy institute, border group hope Kamala Harris' El Paso visit will not be a political move

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