Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg engaged in a fiery exchange with Fox News' Shannon Bream on Sunday, as he defended the Biden-Harris administration's approach to tackling illegal immigration. Buttigieg, appearing on "Fox News Sunday" as a special guest, aimed to counter criticisms of Vice President Kamala Harris and set the record straight on her role in addressing border issues.

Responding to claims that Harris was dubbed the "border czar" by the media, Buttigieg clarified, "Let's be very clear about this because there has been a lot of mischaracterization. She was not in charge of the border. The Homeland Security Department is in charge of the border. She did do something important, though. She was assigned to conduct diplomacy with Central American countries, knowing that that's part of the bigger picture of what's affecting the border."

Buttigieg emphasized the positive impact of Harris's diplomatic efforts, pointing out that the numbers of migrants from Central American countries have decreased as a result. Bream challenged Buttigieg's assertion, noting that the decline was marginal.

The former mayor went on to argue that President Biden's failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform was due to former President Trump's interference. "He wanted Congress to resolve [immigration] because that would have been more durable. But when Trump came in, talked Republicans out of their own bipartisan project because he didn't want the issue to get better...so he has a vested interest in it remaining chaotic down there," Buttigieg explained.

However, Bream pushed back, mentioning that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republican lawmakers objected to certain provisions in the border bill proposed by Democrats. Buttigieg maintained that Trump's influence was the main reason for the lack of progress, stating, "They moved forward because Donald Trump swooped in and said I don't want Joe Biden to get a win."

The discussion surrounding Harris's handling of the migrant crisis escalated further as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries defended her against Republican criticism. He accused Republicans of falsely labeling Harris as the "border czar," arguing that it was a made-up term by extreme MAGA Republicans who were experiencing a meltdown.

Despite Jeffries' defense, six members of the House Democratic Caucus voted to criticize Harris's approach to immigration, highlighting internal divisions within the party regarding the issue.

Overall, Buttigieg joined a growing list of prominent Democrats coming to the defense of Vice President Harris on her immigration policies. This debate on immigration is seen as a critical topic leading up to the 2024 Democratic nominating process.

As the situation continues to evolve, the Biden-Harris administration is under increased scrutiny and pressure to address the complex challenges surrounding illegal immigration at the southern border.