Doocy Asks KJP How Long Kamala Has Known Admin Is Badly Handling Border
Fox News White House Correspondent Peter Doocy confronted White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre with a pointed question about Vice President Kamala Harris' apparent criticisms of President Joe Biden's handling of border security.
Doocy referenced Harris’ campaign pledge to bolster the border by hiring additional agents to curb illegal immigration. He noted that Biden had tasked Harris in March 2021 with addressing the “root causes” of migration in Mexico and the Northern Triangle. Over the years, Harris’ views on illegal immigration have shifted, both during her time as a senator and as vice president.
“How long have you guys known that Vice President Kamala Harris does not think President Biden is doing a good job at the border?” Doocy asked. Jean-Pierre, seeking clarification, asked him to repeat the question. Doocy pressed further, pointing out, “Well, she’s now promising to hire thousands more border agents than there are now under President Biden.”
Jean-Pierre responded by accusing Doocy of misrepresenting Harris’ stance and shifted blame to congressional Republicans and former President Donald Trump for obstructing efforts to increase border security.
“The president does want more Border Patrol agents,” Jean-Pierre stated. “You know who’s getting in the way? Republicans in Congress. They’re getting in the way. You know who else is getting in the way? The former president, Donald Trump. He’s getting in the way. I mean, there’s no daylight here. I’m not getting the question because there’s no daylight. The president believes that as well, and he’s worked toward doing that.”
Jean-Pierre highlighted the Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, a proposed law designed to fund hiring more Border Patrol agents and immigration judges to expedite immigration proceedings. The bill also aimed to deport individuals who entered the U.S. illegally when the daily average exceeded 5,000.
However, Senate Republicans blocked the bill on February 7 in a narrow 49-50 vote. House Speaker Mike Johnson declared the legislation “dead on arrival” in the House.
Harris’ campaign ads have emphasized her commitment to securing the border. A July advertisement claimed she supports hiring more Border Patrol agents, deploying advanced technology to combat drug smuggling, and increasing funding to counter human trafficking.
During Harris’ tenure as the administration's "border czar," former Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott claimed she never engaged with him directly. Speaking to the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF) on August 8, Scott criticized the Biden-Harris administration for diverting substantial funds from enforcement operations to initiatives that facilitated illegal immigration.
Scott alleged that taxpayer money was funneled to NGOs to transport illegal immigrants “wherever they want to go” instead of prioritizing enforcement.
Immigration advocacy group NumbersUSA assigned Harris an F- grade for supporting legislation perceived as undermining border security.
Harris has faced scrutiny for past statements on immigration. In 2018, she likened Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to the Ku Klux Klan and advocated for its dissolution. By 2020, she voiced support for providing illegal immigrants access to health insurance.