Vice President Kamala Harris recently traveled to Guatemala\nand Mexico to discuss the \u201croot causes\u201d of migration with government officials\nin the region. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although there was already minimal confidence in Harris\u2019 ability to effectively address the humanitarian crisis at the southern border, she managed to further lower expectations. Harris\u2019 first trip overseas was as bad as it could get and confirmed that the United States (as well as Guatemala and Mexico) should not have any confidence in her ability to lead regional migration strategies and secure the southern border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harris\u2019 trip overseas started rocky before she even landed in Guatemala. In a CBS interview<\/a> that aired the day before her visit to the country, Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei said that he and Harris were \u201cnot on the same side of the coin\u201d on migration and that his administration \u201casked the United States government to send more of a clear message to prevent more people from leaving.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Immediately after landing in Guatemala, Harris was met with an unpleasant welcome. Large crowds of Guatemalan citizens held signs with messages including<\/a> \u2018Kamala Go Home,\u2019 \u2018Kamala Mind Your Own Business\u2019, and \u2018We Reject Your 860 Million Dollar Bribe to Our Corrupt Politicians.\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Soon after landing, Harris made joint remarks with President Giammattei (who told her<\/a> to wear a COVID mask in front of him) that also received criticism. Harris told Guatemalans to not come<\/a> to the U.S. border and that the U.S. will continue to enforce its laws and secure its border<\/a>. This message confused many as Harris has repeatedly advocated for migrants to come to the southern border, Tweeting in 2017<\/a> that \u201cEveryone is welcome here.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Her words likely convinced no one, since the administration\u2019s deeds clearly indicate that coming to the United States illegally will be rewarded. At the same time, she managed to incur the wrath of the ascendant far left wing of the Democrat Party, most notably Rep. Alexandra Ocasio Cortez, who called it disappointing<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The trip further spiraled downward during an exclusive TV interview<\/a> with NBC\u2019s Lester Holt. Holt asked Harris if she had any plans to visit the southern border to get a firsthand look at what is happening. Harris became flustered and stated, \u201cWe\u2019ve been to the border. We\u2019ve been to the border.\u201d To which Holt pointed out, \u201cYou<\/em> have haven\u2019t been to the border.\u201d The vice president smugly responded, \u201c\u2026and I haven\u2019t been to Europe. I don\u2019t understand the point that you\u2019re making.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The tone-deaf statement from Harris triggered a flurry of articles, videos, memes, and other media worldwide. It became one of the most embarrassing moments of her time as vice president as she seemed to be unaware of the record number<\/a> of migrant children held in federal custody and the ever-expanding human<\/a> and drug smuggling<\/a> industries occurring at the border under her leadership. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The following day, Harris traveled to Mexico to meet with\nMexican President Manuel Lopez Obrador, also to discuss and address the \u201croot\ncauses\u201d of migration. But the trip also received bad reviews. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Harris\u2019 visit to Mexico came just after the country\u2019s violence-marred<\/a> midterm elections. One Mexican government official called her visit \u201cnot ideal<\/a>.\u201d Sergio de la Pena, who served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Western Hemisphere Affairs, said<\/a> that \u201cWhenever you do visits like this, you take a look at what issues are taking place in the partner nation she want to go visit (sic), or whatever country you want to go visit \u2013 so why would you show up immediately after an election on Sunday for a visit on Tuesday?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Harris left Mexico agreeing to a $130 million<\/a> commitment over the next three years from the U.S. to support labor reforms in Mexico and loans to bolster southern Mexico\u2019s economy\u2014despite foreign aid showing little to no<\/a> impact on curbing illegal migration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vice President Kamala Harris\u2019 first overseas trip did not go well, to say the least. She did not receive warm welcomes. Her messaging remained confusing. She appeared tone-deaf on national television. Her awareness of foreign policy and customs lacked. And the agreements she signed continue to do little to effectively address the situation at the southern border. Her trip can only be seen as a failure and confirmation that is she the wrong person to lead the effort to fix one of the worst border and humanitarian crises in history. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Vice President Kamala Harris recently traveled to Guatemala and Mexico to discuss the \u201croot causes\u201d of migration with government officials in the region. Although there was already minimal confidence in Harris\u2019 ability to effectively address the humanitarian crisis at the southern border, she managed to further lower expectations. Harris\u2019 first trip overseas was as bad<\/p>\n