Vice President Kamala Harris’ announcement of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her operating mate has already introduced recent scrutiny on his report on immigration and border safety – together with his assist of driver’s licenses for unlawful immigrants and calls to make Minnesota a sanctuary state.
Moments after the decide was reported, Republicans hammered the selection, with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley describing a Harris/Walz ticket as “a win for open borders, socialism, and Iran.”
The Republican Nationwide Committee instantly hit him on his report, accusing him of flooding unlawful immigrants with advantages. It famous Walz’s creation of an “Office of New Americans” to assist immigrants and refugees combine into the USA.
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The RNC additionally pointed to measures that turned legislation throughout Walz’s time as governor. The committee highlighted his signing of a invoice into legislation final yr that enables unlawful immigrants to get a driver’s license.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks throughout a press convention at Metropolis Corridor on Aug. 1, 2024 in Bloomington. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Pictures)
“Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are two open borders, weak on crime, defund the police liberals who make up the most radical, far-left ticket in the history of our country,” RNC Chairman Michael Whatley stated in a press release.
Walz final week dismissed former President Trump’s efforts to construct further partitions on the southern border, quipping that if he did, he’d put money into a ladder manufacturing unit.
“He talks about this wall, I always say, let me know how high it is. If it’s 25 feet, then I’ll invest in the 30-foot ladder factory,” he stated on CNN. “That’s not how you stop this.”
Throughout Walz’s time as governor, Democrats handed measures to make unlawful immigrants eligible for a tuition-free faculty program, Axios reported, and in addition expanded entry to the state’s MinnesotaCare to incorporate these within the nation illegally. In 2018, he appeared to voice assist for “sanctuary policies.”
“My position on Minnesota becoming a sanctuary state boils down to who has the responsibility for enforcing immigration laws,” he instructed CBS Information in 2018. “Here’s what I believe: Congress has given federal agencies the authority to enforce immigration laws in Minnesota, and I support their doing so. Congress has not given local law enforcement that same authority. The role of law enforcement is to enforce state and local laws, not federal immigration laws, and I strongly believe that they should not do so.”
“All Minnesotans are safer when the limited resources of local law enforcement are focused on local crimes, and when everyone feels safe to cooperate fully with the police. For example, if your neighbor witnesses someone breaking into your home, you are safer when your neighbor knows their immigration status is not at risk if they call the police.”
Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., hit Walz for these remarks and previous positions.
“The most liberal ‘nominee’ to ever appear on a presidential ballot has now chosen a progressive running mate who has voiced support for socialism, supports sanctuary cities, and wants to give driver’s licenses to the millions of illegal aliens Kamala Harris has allowed into our country,” Johnson stated.
Texas Gov. Greg Abott known as the pairing “the most dangerous P/VP ticket ever.”
“She supports free health care to illegal immigrants. He signed laws giving state services to them. Both provide magnets for more illegal immigration,” he stated on X.
Vice President Kamala Harris chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her operating mate. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Pictures)
As a congressman, Walz drew criticism from immigration hawks and reward from left-wing activist teams. The American Immigration Lawyer’s Affiliation (AILA) gave him 100% scores for his votes. In the meantime, NumbersUSA gave him a D profession ranking, and an F- for the one hundred and fifteenth Congress.
NumbersUSA, which requires decrease ranges of immigration, pointed to his cosponsoring of the American Promise Act, which might grant a pathway to citizenship for unlawful immigrants protected by Short-term Protected Standing (TPS). It additionally pointed to his votes on payments limiting the observe of household separation, and to extend refugee numbers.
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Nevertheless, the group famous positively a 2008 vote to extend funding for the development of a border fence, and a 2012 measure to put cell towers on the border for Border Patrol brokers to make use of.
As governor, he got here underneath strain from state Republicans, who needed him to affix different governors in sending the Nationwide Guard and different options to repair the disaster on the border.
“Walz’ refusal to step in and help Border Patrol and law enforcement is inexcusable,” the Republican Governors’ Affiliation stated in 2021. “He must put politics aside and stop turning a blind eye to the massive humanitarian and security crisis at our border.”
The Harris marketing campaign’s assertion asserting Walz as her operating mate didn’t point out any achievements or positions on immigration or border safety and the Harris marketing campaign didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon his previous positions.
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In a press release, Harris touted his convictions “on fighting for middle class families.”
“As a governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he’s delivered for working families like his own. We are going to build a great partnership,” she stated. “We start out as underdogs but I believe together, we can win this election.”
