In a tense interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier, Vice President Kamala Harris repeatedly sidestepped direct questions about the Biden administration’s handling of immigration, choosing instead to shift focus to former President Donald Trump’s record on the issue. The interview, which aired Wednesday, was centered on the ongoing crisis at the southern border and the policy decisions made under the current administration.
Baier opened the discussion by pressing Harris on the estimated number of illegal immigrants released into the United States during the Biden administration’s tenure. Harris avoided providing a direct figure, responding, “Well, I’m glad you raised the issue of immigration because I agree with you. It is a topic of discussion that people want to rightly have. And you know what I’m going to talk about-”
Baier interjected, seeking a specific number. “But just a number. Do you think it’s 1 million? 3 million?” he asked. Harris redirected her response, emphasizing the need for broader immigration reform, stating, “The point is that we have a broken immigration system that needs to be repaired.”
The Fox News anchor then referenced Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimates, which suggest that 6 million illegal immigrants have been released into the country during the Biden administration. Baier questioned whether the decision to roll back Trump-era policies, such as the “Remain in Mexico” policy, contributed to the release of violent criminals into the U.S. When asked if she regretted the decision to end the policy early in her term, Harris focused on the administration’s legislative push for immigration reform, accusing Trump of obstructing a bipartisan immigration bill.
The interview took a more emotional turn as Baier brought up the high-profile cases of Jocelyn Nungaray, Rachel Morin, and Laken Riley—individuals who were reportedly killed by violent illegal immigrants who entered the country during the Biden administration’s watch. Baier pressed Harris on whether she believed the administration owed the victims’ families an apology.
Harris acknowledged the tragic nature of the cases but shifted the conversation to the legislative process. “Let me just say—first of all, those are tragic cases. There’s no question about that,” Harris said. She further emphasized that more resources for border agents and support staff could have prevented such tragedies, pointing to stalled legislation that would have increased border security.
Baier continued to push Harris for a direct apology to the families affected, referencing a statement from Jocelyn Nungaray’s mother, who directly blamed the Biden-Harris administration for her daughter’s death. Harris offered condolences, saying, “I will tell you that I’m so sorry for her loss. I’m so sorry for her loss. Sincerely. But let’s talk about what is happening right now with an individual who does not want to participate in solutions.”
The discussion also touched on Harris’s past comments declaring the border “secure.” Baier pressed Harris on when, in her view, the situation at the border evolved into a crisis. Harris pointed to systemic issues that predated Trump, highlighting the long-standing challenges of immigration enforcement. “We’ve had a broken immigration system transcending, by the way, Donald Trump’s administration, even before,” she said, calling for more resources for border agents and an overhaul of the judicial process for immigration cases.
One particularly contentious moment came when Baier asked Harris about her stance on taxpayer-funded transgender surgeries for illegal immigrants in custody. Harris defended her position by referring back to policies under Trump. “I will follow a law. A law that Donald Trump actually followed,” she said. “It’s a public report that under Donald Trump’s administration, these surgeries were available to, on a medical necessity basis, to people in the federal prison system.”
Throughout the interview, Harris’s deflections to Trump’s record drew criticism from those who felt she failed to address the Biden administration’s role in the border crisis directly. Harris’s focus on the broader context of U.S. immigration challenges and the legislative gridlock contrasted sharply with Baier’s attempts to hone in on the specifics of current policies and their impacts.
The exchange highlighted the deep political divisions surrounding immigration policy in the United States, with the Biden administration’s rollback of certain Trump-era policies continuing to be a focal point of criticism from Republicans. Harris’s performance during the interview is likely to be scrutinized by both her supporters and detractors as she navigates the challenges of addressing the crisis at the southern border while on the campaign trail.
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