Vice President Kamala Harris, the mayor of the border town she plans to visit on Friday, said local residents are feeling the squeeze as the border crisis reaches its climax.
Donald Huesch, mayor of Douglas, Ariz., for the past four years, told the Daily Caller News Foundation that when Title 42 was first lifted and illegal immigrants entered the country en masse, local government was pushed to the brink. Ta. Harris, who has faced criticism for her handling of the immigration crisis, is preparing to: visit It introduces the town and highlights border security issues. (Related: Aurora, Colorado aims to increase police force by $10 million in fight against Torren de Aragua gang
“We were concerned,” Huesch told DCNF. “We were worried. We didn't have anywhere to put it, so we were trying to figure out how to deal with this.”
“We have no major transportation access from our community,” the mayor continued. “We have two shuttle vans that shuttle people to Tucson and Phoenix, and we didn’t know where to park them.” [the large number of migrants]”
DOUGLAS, AZ – NOVEMBER 3: A Mexican immigrant who was captured by U.S. Border Patrol agents near the U.S.-Mexico border is searched near Douglas, Arizona, on Nov. 3, 2022. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
In fiscal year 2024, more than 450,000 immigrants entered the Tucson Border Patrol area illegally. According to Go to CBP data.
The Biden-Harris administration lifted Title 42 in May 2023, ending the coronavirus-era measures that helped keep the U.S.-Mexico border under control. However, the decision comes as the government continues to grapple with a massive increase in illegal border crossings.
Since the Biden-Harris administration took office, Border Patrol agents have encountered more than 7 million immigrants attempting to enter the country illegally. According to Based on the latest numbers from Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The large influx of foreigners has put a strain on major sanctuary cities like New York City, Chicago and Denver, especially since Texas Gov. Greg Abbott began busing immigrants to his jurisdiction.
Harris is scheduled to visit Douglas late Friday night to discuss immigration, her first trip to the border since becoming her party's presidential nominee. The vice president is expected to make remarks calling for stronger border security. According to Go to CBS News.
Since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee, Harris has changed her stance on immigration enforcement, taking a more hawkish position. The vice president now says he believes in “the results.”[s]” she now says in a campaign ad to illegal immigrants. I support More Border Patrol agents are on the ground.
But Huesch said his town was able to avoid disaster thanks in large part to federally-funded transportation assistance to remove undocumented immigrants from the area with buses.
“But fortunately, through a local church, we were able to provide them with shelter until a bus could transport them to Tucson,” the mayor said. “If we didn't have that, we would be in a world of hurt.”
“Fortunately for us, it worked out,” he said. “Would I want to go through it again? No, I was nervous and I didn't know what was going on. It was a federal issue and it was finally upon us.”
As for who the mayor thinks is best suited to patrol the border, he pulled the plug at the last minute. Huesch hopes whoever is elected, Harris or former President Donald Trump, will take border security seriously, and he believes both appear to be doing so. said.
Another local leader, Douglas City Councilwoman Danya Acosta, said the situation in Douglas was hectic when Title 42 was lifted, but she remains optimistic about Harris' latest border proposal. spoke.
“While it is true that the immigration crisis spiked after the expiration of Title 42, largely because there was no comprehensive replacement plan in place, Vice President Kamala Harris’ immigration proposal is more thoughtful than the current approach. We believe it provides a deep and sustainable solution,” Acosta told DCNF.
“Vice President Harris' visit to Douglas today to highlight border issues is a great opportunity for our community to participate in these important discussions and demonstrate what truly comprehensive immigration reform can look like. “It's an opportunity to think about this,” Acosta continued. “We hope that her visit will foster conversations about lasting solutions that reflect both compassion and pragmatism.”
Other local leaders were more outspoken about who is best placed in charge of border security.
“No one contacted me about the visit,” Cochise County Supervisor Peggy Judd told DCNF. The City of Douglas is located within the boundaries of Cochise County.
The supervisor added, “Border communities and our counties are much more dangerous than they were when President Trump was in office!”
The Harris campaign did not immediately respond to DCNF's request for comment.
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