Views on the Southern Border – Harris vs. Trump

The southern border, and its various, is a pressing, yet controversial topic that is of high debate within the United States government. In addition, the 2024 election hinges greatly on this subject, and Trump’s and Harris’ views on this can sway a large number of voters, thereby affecting the outcome of the election.

Who says what about the southern border?

Kamala Harris has historically been liberal about her standpoint on the southern border. She focused on opening avenues for immigrants rather than combating illegal immigration.

However, she has begun to shift her views from an opportunistic approach to a more defensive way of dealing with the influx of migration from the South. Her recent visit to the US Mexico border in Arizona on September 27 entailed her highlighting her “tough-on-migration” standpoint. She discussed her time as a prosecutor and described the gangs and organized crime that she took on, and how she plans on dealing with it should she be elected president.

Donald Trump, on the other hand, is entirely planning a crack-down on immigration. He vows that, should he be elected to office, he would enforce the largest domestic deportation that America has ever seen. However, it is important to mention that he has made similar promises in his previous campaign against Hillary Clinton in 2016, but didn’t even match Barack Obama’s number of deportations in 2013, which was around 432,000 (with Trump having only approximately 350,000).

Even with these numbers, Trump is still seen as extremely hard on migration. He plans to reinstall Title 42, which, as mentioned in the Associated Press, “curbed immigration on public health grounds.” He also vowed to enact the Remain in Mexico program, which requires that potential immigrants stay in Mexico while their asylum cases are processed.

Why has Harris shifted her views on the southern border?

As mentioned before, Kamala Harris has generally been liberal in regards to the southern border. However, she has shifted her stance to a more strict approach on the topic.

The reason that she has drastically changed her views on the border lies in the shifting national mood, in which many citizens, both Democrats and Republicans alike, are calling for an emphasis on border security. This change has been appealing to moderate voters, among other nonpartisan groups.

An additional expected reason why Harris has shifted her views on the border is to counter criticisms from the Trump administration surrounding her liberality on the issue. A prominent example of this was during the presidential debate on September 10. Trump took his opportunity to attack Harris for her border plans, which is around when we began seeing shifts in her campaign’s stance on the topic.

It is important to consider that, while these changes have attracted some positive attention from Americans, it has not swayed everyone.

Who is more trusted to handle the southern border?

As the southern border is a central topic of debate within the presidential election, it is important to consider who would win this particular point of discussion. According to the latest Rasmussen Report from September, 51% of Americans believe that Trump is better equipped for handling the issues at the border, while 43% of Americans believe Harris is better positioned for this.

The reason that Trump’s position is the majority sided with is because of his consistent and direct approach to the southern border. His emphasis on his views has rallied stronger support for his calls for the border.

Harris, on the other hand, is seen as more inconsistent with her beliefs, turning voters away, especially with her recent shift to a tougher stance on migration. In addition, she must walk the tightrope that balances her position, and staying true to the Democratic values of opportunity and humanity.

What does this mean for the election?

The southern border has been an extremely pressing issue that will be the deciding factor on who people throughout the country decide to vote for. In fact, according to Pew Research, 88% of voters believe that border security should be strengthened, indicating that the southern border is a topic that is incredibly important to voters.

In addition, Trump and Harris have criticized each other for their difference in opinion on the southern border. The Trump Administration claims that Joe Biden and Harris are failing at controlling the border, and blames them for illegal immigration and the various issues that go along with it.

On the other side of the spectrum, Kamala Harris has been denouncing Trump for the ineffectiveness of his border wall, the inhumane practices his administration used for border deterrence, and the lack of comprehensive reform within migration policies.

Conclusion

Because of these differences in views on the southern border and its significance to American voters, it is important to consider this topic because of how it can end up swaying the election. Trump and Harris will continue to campaign their beliefs up until Election Day, and it will be interesting to see who will win.

Sources:

AYAN SHUKLA

Senior Editor — Managing Editor at The City Voice

Ayan is the managing editor of the City Voice, and a current freshman at City High Middle. He primarily writes articles about the economy, politics, and global current events and won first place in his category in the 2025 MIPA awards. He is part of Speech and Debate, the NHS Executive Board, President of the Class of 2029, MYIG, MUN, Student Ambassadors, and started the Michigan branch of a nonprofit organization.

In his free time, Ayan enjoys playing the piano and the violin, reading, and excessively drinking coffee. You can contact him atshukla-a@students.grps.orgfor any questions about his articles.