**Kamala Harris Visits US-Mexico Border Amid Immigration Debate**

In a strategic move to counter Republican criticism on immigration, Vice-President Kamala Harris made a rare visit to the US-Mexico border. This marks her first visit since 2021. During her visit, Harris criticized former President Donald Trump for focusing on "scapegoating instead of solutions" and prioritizing "rhetoric instead of results."

The visit comes on the heels of Republican nominee claims that Harris is failing on immigration issues and supports what he called "the worst bill ever drawn" on border security. Polls indicate that more Americans trust Trump over Harris when it comes to managing the border and illegal immigration.

Cochise County, Arizona, a conservative area that experienced record-high border crossings last autumn, served as the backdrop for Harris's visit. She inspected the border wall and met with local officials, emphasizing a message of toughness. Harris accused Trump of failing to address the broken immigration system and criticized Republicans for presenting a "false choice" between border security and a "safe, orderly and humane" immigration system. "We can and must do both," she asserted at a campaign event in Douglas.

Harris also pledged to further toughen asylum laws enacted earlier this year by President Joe Biden and to revive a bipartisan border security measure that Trump had blocked. However, local rancher Jim Chilton, whose 50,000-acre ranch is frequently traversed by undocumented migrants, remains skeptical. A Trump supporter, Chilton believes Harris is merely changing her stance to garner votes. "She's changing her mind just to get votes and lie to us. It's outrageous," he stated.

Tensions surrounding immigration are palpable in small border towns like Douglas. Many homeowners have resorted to building brick walls around their homes to prevent migrants from hiding in their backyards. Even some local Democrats who plan to vote for Harris admitted they felt safer during Trump's tenure due to his border policies.

In contrast, volunteer Gail Kochorek, who aids migrants by providing food and water, is disheartened by Harris's pledge to crack down on immigration. Despite her disappointment, Kochorek plans to vote for Harris over Trump. She criticized Trump's promises to secure the border, pointing out existing gaps in Trump's wall and vulnerabilities in the steel fencing.

Trump has vowed to complete the border wall, increase enforcement, and implement what he claims would be the largest mass deportation of undocumented migrants in US history. Earlier this year, however, he urged Republicans to reject a bipartisan border bill endorsed by Biden and Harris, dubbing it "the worst bill ever drawn."

As the immigration debate continues, Harris’s visit has highlighted contrasting views on how to handle border issues, reflecting deep divisions within the country.