A recently unearthed video shows Vice President Kamala Harris chanting for the abolition of deportations during a 2018 parade, raising eyebrows as she now shifts her immigration rhetoric in her bid for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination.
A recently surfaced video has sparked renewed scrutiny of Vice President Kamala Harris's immigration stance, capturing her chanting for the total abolition of deportations during the 2018 Kingdom Day Parade in Los Angeles. “Up, up with education. Down, down with deportation,” Harris shouted alongside a crowd, emphasizing her then-strong opposition to immigration enforcement policies.
The footage, first obtained by the Daily Mail, shows Harris participating in the annual parade celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy, where she served as a grand marshal. In the video, she wears the same outfit listed in parade organizers' footage, confirming the authenticity of the event. The recording also features convicted hate crime hoaxer Jussie Smollett in the background, adding to the controversy surrounding the incident.
At that time, Harris was vocal in her opposition to various immigration enforcement measures. During her 2020 presidential campaign, she was among many candidates who supported the decriminalization of illegal border crossings. She condemned former President Trump’s border wall as “un-American” and a “stupid waste of money,” and expressed support for taxpayer-funded gender reassignment surgeries for undocumented migrants in ICE detention.
In 2021, shortly after taking office, the Biden-Harris administration attempted to impose a 100-day moratorium on most deportations. However, this executive order was blocked in court, marking a significant challenge to their immigration agenda.
Since President Biden announced he would not seek re-election, paving the way for Harris to become the Democratic presidential nominee, she has notably shifted her rhetoric on immigration. Her campaign now emphasizes support for increased Border Patrol agents and portrays her as a tough-on-crime prosecutor who effectively tackled cartels and gang violence.
During a CNN interview in August, Harris stated that there should be “consequence[s]” for individuals who cross the border illegally. When pressed by host Dana Bash about her perceived shifts on immigration enforcement and other issues, Harris maintained that her “values had not changed.”
Reflecting on her past and present stances, Harris said, “It feels great to be in LA, to be in California, to celebrate Dr. King, his vision, his spirit — which is alive and well.” She then contrasted her approach with that of “supposed leaders who are sowing hate and division,” asserting that the nation is “so much better than that.”
As Harris prepares for her presidential campaign, the resurfacing of this video underscores the complexities and potential contradictions in her immigration policy positions, raising questions about her evolving stance as she seeks to appeal to a broader electorate.
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