Is Kamala Harris a “Failed Border Czar?” Immigration Expert Weighs In | Amanpour and Company

While the economy remains the top issue for voters, immigration is not far behind. Jonathan Blitzer, staff writer for The New Yorker, joins the show to discuss Kamala Harris and why border policy remains such a vexing problem for the U.S.

Originally aired on August 22, 2024

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Amanpour and Company features wide-ranging, in-depth conversations with global thought leaders and cultural influencers on the issues and trends impacting the world each day, from politics, business and technology to arts, science and sports. Christiane Amanpour leads the conversation on global and domestic news from London with contributions by prominent journalists Walter Isaacson, Michel Martin, Alicia Menendez and Hari Sreenivasan from the Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center in New York City.

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[tabbycat]

Thank you for the clarification on this issue. Not enough people are talking about it.

[stephensuddick]

There is not, nor has there ever been a border czar. There are only two political parties who have both abjectly failed to create coherent and effective border policy.

[WonderWoman-ek]

The VP told us that the Border is secure. Now we are told that there needs to be reforms.
Plans by the current administration are overall obtuse.
VP Harris Border Plan
. Abolish Immigration & Customs Enforcement
. Release inmates in Detention Centers and Close Detention Centers.
. Automatic Release for Border Crossers.
. Fly Border Crossers to any US Town.
. Award citizenship to estimated 22 million migrants.
. Award eligibility for Medicare, Food Stamps, & Social Security.

[BoundarySpanningInPractice]

I appreciated this interview for rationally sorting out the issues; it's one of the things I depend on Amanpour & Co. for. Am looking forward to more on this issue this year.
If at some point you could discuss how the Dreamers may be able to progress, that would be good, too. If their path to citizenship were to be expedited, I keep thinking that it would make the Social Security financial picture brighter. Maybe you could talk about that sometime.

[mmca]

Very enlightening--thank you. It's so good to hear something beyond the everyday talking points.

[supramentalmanifestation]

Thank you. I love key opinion leaders on subjects like this. All opinions were not created equal.

[harperwelch]

The bill died in Congress. How can Harris be blamed for not addressing policies and solutions that were not approved by the GOP (Trump)?

[erikkengaard]

The bill would have done nothing to resolve the immigration problem. It was a smoke screen. Just as was Simpson-Mazzoli. "There was just one problem — the 1986 reform didn't work. The law was supposed to put a stop to illegal immigration into the United States once and for all. Instead, the exact opposite happened. The number of unauthorized immigrants living in the country soared, from an estimated 5 million in 1986 to 11.1 million in 2013." (WaPo, January 30, 2013)

[Jsameds]

The same outlets that are saying she was never border czar referred to her as the border czar just a couple of years ago.

[nancyjohnston]

At one point, Blitzer says, "It doesn't land, " But it does land among republicans and trumpers. Voters are unwilling to listen to the facts. Republicans don't have to actually explain anything for their voters who believe anything trump says.

[Alyssabacq]

Stop deflecting call it what u want but she was lead on the boarder crisis

[justinschmidt]

The boarder is a mess. She's a massive failure

[stephenphillips]

Trump and Maga don't vote for a bill to help solve the issue and then point to her as a failure...LoL

[frankhoffman]

Dear World, thank you for your interest in being a resident of the U.S., however we are suspending service temporarily until we re-tool our system so that it better meets the safety and welfare of persons already here. We recommend you take similar activities where you now reside. Once this is complete we will then again welcome your application.

[Makmurf]

WE are in so much trouble. No idea who is in this country.

[JimwombatLand]

SHE WAS NEVER A BORDERR CZAR ! NEVER THERE ! FOLLOWED JOE AROUND ALL THE TIME !

[karmadave]

So you are tell us Republicans are lying about VP Harris' role in the administration as it relates to immigration? No! 😉

[itsallminor]

If i was at a job saying "i wasn't directly put in charge of that so I let the building burn down". I'm pretty sure they would fire me.

She purposely left open. Her views were clear.

[charlessmyth]

[17:20] At least as well as the US fared with its wars in Afghanistan and Iraq :-)

[johndavidwolf]

Is referring to Kamala as a "Border czar", as opposed to "Border czarina", mis-gendering?