Kamala Harris’ Stance on the Caribbean, Latin America

News Americas, New York, NY, August 1, 2024: While the US’ Black, Asian and Caribbean American VP, Kamala Harris, is not yet the official Democratic Party nominee, despite having enough pledged delegates, she is now thrust into an election just about 95 days away. So where has she stood during the Biden administration on the Caribbean and Latin America? The Americas Society Council of the Americas recently documented that stance in a recent article. Here’s a synopsis from the analysis.

US Vice President and 2024 presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris delivers the eulogy for US Representative, Caribbean roots Sheila Jackson Lee, at Fallbrook Church in Houston, Texas, on August 1, 2024. Jackson Lee, a Democrat and outspoken advocate for racial justice and minorities’ rights, died July 19, 2024, at the age of 74. (Photo by MARK FELIX/AFP via Getty Images)

Immigration

Harris, born to a Jamaican father and Indian mother, has extensive experience dealing with immigration issues, both as vice president and during her tenure as a U.S. senator from California (2017–2021) and the state’s attorney general (2011–2017). But what are her positions on immigration and other issues concerning Latin America and the Caribbean?

Early in the Biden administration, concerns over unprecedented immigration numbers emerged. In March 2021, a surge of unaccompanied minors at the southern border led President Biden to assign Harris the task of reducing migration to the United States.

Harris, a child of immigrants from the Caribbean and India, has since focused on addressing the “root causes” of migration, primarily the lack of economic opportunities in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. The United States, under her initiative, has facilitated economic development and private investment in these countries, resulting in $5 billion in promised investments, with about a quarter already active.

Republicans often refer to Harris as the Biden administration’s “Border Czar,” a title she never officially held. Harris visited the U.S.-Mexico border once in June 2021, where she reiterated her commitment to solving the “root problems” of migration.

In May, Harris supported a bipartisan border enforcement bill that was blocked in the Senate. The bill aimed to increase funding for border agents and technology, boost deportations, and close the border to migrants under certain conditions. Parts of this bill were included in a Biden executive order in June.

As a senator, Harris was a vocal critic of Trump administration immigration policies. She was the first senator to call for the resignation of then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen over the policy of family separation. She also authored legislation to provide detained migrants with legal resources and has been a strong advocate for Dreamers.

U.S.-Mexico Relations

One of Kamala Harris’ first trips as vice president was to Mexico in June 2021, where she met with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to discuss bilateral relations and support for the Biden administration’s Central America strategy. The meeting also addressed issues of drug, arms, and human smuggling. As California’s attorney general, Harris built a reputation for combating organized crime, including the Sinaloa cartel.

Harris opposes Republican calls for military force against organized crime groups in Mexico and did not respond to requests to designate cartels as terrorist groups. She discussed organized crime with Mexican President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum following the country’s June elections.

If elected president, Harris will oversee the 2026 review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). In 2020, she was one of 10 senators to vote against the pact, citing insufficient protections for U.S. workers and the environment. She also opposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which included Mexico, Chile, and Peru, during her 2016 Senate campaign. President Trump withdrew the United States from the TPP in 2021.

Cuba and Venezuela

Harris has taken a different stance from Biden on Cuba. Before becoming vice president, she supported ending the embargo. During Biden’s term, she condemned the regime’s violence and backed increased sanctions on its leaders.

Regarding Venezuela, Harris supported expanding Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelan migrants and opposed military intervention to ensure aid delivery. As a senator in 2019, she criticized the violent repression by Nicolás Maduro’s regime and recently called on Maduro to respect the Barbados Accords for free and fair 2024 elections.

Puerto Rico and the Caribbean

Harris visited Puerto Rico in 2024 to highlight federal aid for hurricane recovery. She faced protests supporting independence and opposing a controversial tax law.

Of Jamaican descent, Harris co-hosted the U.S.-Caribbean Leaders Meeting in June 2023, announcing over $100 million in USAID funding for the Caribbean.

Kamala Harris’ positions on Latin America and the Caribbean reflect a comprehensive approach to addressing economic development, immigration, and bilateral relations, emphasizing diplomacy and investment over military intervention. As the Democratic nominee, her policies will play a crucial role in shaping U.S. relations with the region.