Kamala Harris latest: VP gets defensive during Lester Holt grilling about border crisis as Joe Biden heads to UK
KAMALA Harris got defensive during a grilling from Lester Holt last night.
During a sit down with the Vice President, Holt mentioned criticism that she has received for not visiting the US-Mexico border.
Harris has been put in charge of the country's southern border and leads the White House's efforts to address the increase of migration to the US.
In the interview, Harris pushed back against the disapproval she has received.
The interview aired Tuesday with Holt asking, "Why not visit the border? Why not see what American's are seeing in this crisis?"
"I care about what's happening at the border. I'm in Guatemala because my focus is dealing with the root causes of migration."
Read our Kamala Harris live blog below for the latest updates…
- Katie Balevic
KAMALA HARRIS' SECURITY BLUNDER
An unidentified woman raised serious security questions after she apparently posed as a reporter during a press conference with Vice President Kamala Harris in Mexico to ask a softball question.
"Thank you Madam Vice President. For me it's an honor because I actually got to vote for the first time as a Nationalized citizen," said the mystery woman identified as Maria Fernanda Reyes. "And I voted for you."
However, the woman's presence within the presser proved alarming.
Univision US news president Daniel Coronell revealed the mystery woman was not a member of the network's staff.
"In Mexico an individual which has no association with Univision claimed to be a reporter for UniNoticias in order to ask the VP a question and to compliment Kamala Harris," he tweeted.
- Katie Balevic
'NEW ERA' FOR US AND MEXICO
Kamala Harris said the US and Mexico are "embarking on a new era" in her brief remarks to pool reporters today before their work meeting.
“I have most enjoy being able to see you and talk with you in person," she told Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, noting that she enjoyed their previous conversations.
“As you have said, the United States and Mexico have a longstanding relationship based on family."
During their discussions today. López Obrador did not wear a mask when he greeted Harris or sat around the table but others did don a face covering.
- Katie Balevic
'NO QUICK FIX' TO BORDER CRISIS
Kamala Harris acknowledged that addressing the border crisis will not be easy.
Joe Biden's border czar told NBC News’ Lester Holt in an interview set to air tonight that "there is “not going to be a quick fix."
"We are not going to see an immediate return. But we’re going to see progress,” Harris said. “The real work is going to take time to manifest itself. Will it be worth it? Yes. Will it take some time? Yes.”
The footage came after she told migrants thinking of coming to the US they would be "turned back" if they entered illegally, adding, "do not come."
- Katie Balevic
'WE CARE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE BORDER,' VP SAYS
VP Harris discussed the border crisis with NBC's Lester Holt.
"There may be some that think that that is not important but it is my firm belief that if we care about what's happening at the border, we better care about the root causes and address them so that's what I'm doing."
Harris had stated earlier in the interview, "At some point, you know, we are going to the border. We have to deal with what's happening at the border there's no question about that. That's not a debatable point."
"But we have to understand there's a reason people are arriving at our border and ask what is that reason and identify the problem so we can fix it."
- Katie Balevic
NBC'S LESTER HOLT GRILLS KAMALA HARRIS ON BORDER VISIT
During a sit down with Vice President Kamala Harris, Lester Holt mentioned criticism that she has received for not visiting the US-Mexico border.
Harris has been put in charge of the country's southern border and leads the White House's efforts to address the increase of migration to the US.
In the interview, Harris pushed back against the disapproval she has received.
The interview aired Tuesday with Holt asking, "Why not visit the border? Why not see what American's are seeing in this crisis?"
"I care about what's happening at the border. I'm in Guatemala because my focus is dealing with the root causes of migration."
- Katie Balevic
GOP BACKLASH ON KAMALA'S SOUTHERN BORDER AVOIDANCE
Kamala Harris' reluctance to visit the southern border has been slammed by Republicans.
Rep Jim Jordan and Tex Cruz all weighed in on Twitter after Harris said she would not be taking a trip there.
"Vice President Harris is in Mexico today. Probably the closest she’s ever been to the southern border. But she still won’t visit it," Jordan raged.
"How about @VP acknowledges the dangerous crisis she & @POTUS created at the border?" added Sen Rick Scott of Florida. "Do your job. Immigration reform must begin with SECURING THE BORDER."
Rep Jason Smith of Missouri added: "It’s as if the @VP just wants the title but none of the actual work."
When someone tweeted that it had been 75 days since Harris had been named Biden's border czar, Cruz wrote: "Yup."
- Katie Balevic
AOC RIPS KAMALA HARRIS FOR TELLING IMMIGRANTS 'DO NOT COME TO US'
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ripped into Vice President Kamala Harris for telling illegal immigrants not to come here after the United States "set Latin America on fire."
After the vice president told people in the region thinking of making the dangerous journey, "do not come [to the US]," Ocasio-Cortez described the statement as "disappointing."
"This is disappointing to see," the progressive politician tweeted. "First, seeking asylum at any US border is a 100 [percent] legal method of arrival.
"Second, the US spent decades contributing to regime change and destabilization in Latin America. We can’t help set someone’s house on fire and then blame them for fleeing."
- Katie Balevic
MOUNTING PRESSURE ON THE WHITE HOUSE
As a range of politicians on both sides of the aisle weigh in on Kamala Harris' landmark visits to Guatemala and Mexico, she is fielding a lot of criticism over her failure to visit the border.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki demurred from giving a planned visit or timetable for a border visit, while Harris bizarrely pointed out that she had not been to Europe either during an interview with Lester Holt.
However, it is not clear if and when she will make a trip to the hard-hit region.
Around 178,000 illegal immigrants arrived at the border in April alone, which marks the highest total in more than 20 years.
- Katie Balevic
MAIN TAKEAWAYS FROM KAMALA'S MEETING WITH ORADOR
Kamala Harris confirmed the Biden administration would issue loans for affordable housing, infrastructure, and the cacao and coffee industry, her top advisor Symone Sanders told the New York Times.
The USA will also be forking out a whopping $130million over the course of three years in an effort to back labor protections for Mexican workers.
This would also fund provide forensic training to Mexican officials in an effort to find tens of thousands of missing people.
Speaking about her chat with Orador, Harris said: “He and I spent a significant amount of time together one on one."
She said their talk today was “very directed" and "candid.”
- Katie Balevic
KAMALA RESPONDS TO SOFTBALL QUESTION FROM FAKE REPORTER
As the woman, who identified herself as a reporter for the Spanish-speaking television channel Univision, said she voted for Harris, the vice president grasped her chest and said "thank you."
"So my question is, what would you say to these woman, those mothers, and also women of color on both sides of the border, farmers, many of whom I see everyday, as a message of hope but also what will you do for them in the next coming years?" the woman asked.
During the question, Harris is seen nodding and thanking the woman for the softball.
"That's a great question and thank you," Harris responded.
- Katie Balevic
KAMALA HARRIS SECURITY BLUNDER
An unidentified woman raised serious security questions after she apparently posed as a reporter during a press conference with Vice President Kamala Harris in Mexico to ask a softball question.
"Thank you Madam Vice President. For me it's an honor because I actually got to vote for the first time as a Nationalized citizen," said the mystery woman identified as Maria Fernanda Reyes. "And I voted for you."
However, the woman's presence within the presser proved alarming.
Univision US news president Daniel Coronell revealed the mystery woman was not a member of the network's staff.
"In Mexico an individual which has no association with Univision claimed to be a reporter for UniNoticias in order to ask the VP a question and to compliment Kamala Harris," he tweeted.
- Katie Balevic
US SEES MEXICO AS A 'PARTNER'
Kamala Harris issued a fawning tweet after meeting with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
- Katie Balevic
WHAT DID HARRIS SAY ABOUT THE BORDER?
In an interview with NBC News’ Lester Holt set to air on Tuesday night, Harris defended the fact that she had yet to visit the border.
She said: “We are going to the border. We have to deal with what’s happening at the border, there’s no question about that. That’s not a debatable point.
"But we have to understand that there’s a reason people are arriving at our border and ask what is that reason and then identify the problem so we can fix it.”
“At some point, you know, we are going to the border. We’ve been to the border. So this whole thing about the border — we’ve been to the border. We’ve been to the border.”
Holt noted that Harris hasn't actually been to the border since taking office.
“And I haven’t been to Europe. And, I mean — I don’t understand the point that you’re making. I’m not discounting the importance of the border.”
- Katie Balevic
'NEW ERA' FOR US AND MEXICO
Kamala Harris said the US and Mexico are "embarking on a new era" in her brief remarks to pool reporters today before their work meeting.
“I have most enjoy being able to see you and talk with you in person," she told Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, noting that she enjoyed their previous conversations.
“As you have said, the United States and Mexico have a longstanding relationship based on family."
During their discussions today. López Obrador did not wear a mask when he greeted Harris or sat around the table but others did don a face covering.
- Katie Balevic
'NO QUICK FIX' TO BORDER CRISIS
Kamala Harris acknowledged that addressing the border crisis will not be easy.
Joe Biden's border czar told NBC News’ Lester Holt in an interview set to air tonight that "there is “not going to be a quick fix."
"We are not going to see an immediate return. But we’re going to see progress,” Harris said. “The real work is going to take time to manifest itself. Will it be worth it? Yes. Will it take some time? Yes.”
The footage came after she told migrants thinking of coming to the US they would be "turned back" if they entered illegally, adding, "do not come."
- Katie Balevic
'WE CARE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE BORDER,' VP SAYS
VP Harris discussed the border crisis with NBC's Lester Holt.
"There may be some that think that that is not important but it is my firm belief that if we care about what's happening at the border, we better care about the root causes and address them so that's what I'm doing."
Harris had stated earlier in the interview, "At some point, you know, we are going to the border. We have to deal with what's happening at the border there's no question about that. That's not a debatable point."
"But we have to understand there's a reason people are arriving at our border and ask what is that reason and identify the problem so we can fix it."
- Katie Balevic
NBC'S LESTER HOLT GRILLS KAMALA HARRIS ON BORDER VISIT
During a sit down with Vice President Kamala Harris, Lester Holt mentioned criticism that she has received for not visiting the US-Mexico border.
Harris has been put in charge of the country's southern border and leads the White House's efforts to address the increase of migration to the US.
In the interview, Harris pushed back against the disapproval she has received.
The interview aired Tuesday with Holt asking, "Why not visit the border? Why not see what American's are seeing in this crisis?"
"I care about what's happening at the border. I'm in Guatemala because my focus is dealing with the root causes of migration."
- Katie Balevic
GOP BACKLASH RE: KAMALA'S SOUTHERN BORDER AVOIDANCE
Kamala Harris' reluctance to visit the southern border has been slammed by Republicans.
Rep Jim Jordan and Tex Cruz all weighed in on Twitter after Harris said she would not be taking a trip there.
"Vice President Harris is in Mexico today. Probably the closest she’s ever been to the southern border. But she still won’t visit it," Jordan raged.
"How about @VP acknowledges the dangerous crisis she & @POTUS created at the border?" added Sen Rick Scott of Florida. "Do your job. Immigration reform must begin with SECURING THE BORDER."
Rep Jason Smith of Missouri added: "It’s as if the @VP just wants the title but none of the actual work."
When someone tweeted that it had been 75 days since Harris had been named Biden's border czar, Cruz wrote: "Yup."
- Katie Balevic
AOC RIPS KAMALA HARRIS FOR TELLING IMMIGRANTS 'DO NOT COME TO US'
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ripped into Vice President Kamala Harris for telling illegal immigrants not to come here after the United States "set Latin America on fire."
After the vice president told people in the region thinking of making the dangerous journey, "do not come [to the US]," Ocasio-Cortez described the statement as "disappointing."
"This is disappointing to see," the progressive politician tweeted. "First, seeking asylum at any US border is a 100 [percent] legal method of arrival.
"Second, the US spent decades contributing to regime change and destabilization in Latin America. We can’t help set someone’s house on fire and then blame them for fleeing."
- Fionnuala O'Leary
MOUNTING PRESSURE
As a range of politicians on both sides of the aisle weigh in on Kamala Harris' landmark visits to Guatemala and Mexico, she is fielding a lot of criticism over her failure to visit the border.
White house press secretary Jen Psaki demured from giving a planned visit or timetable for a border visit, while Harris bizarrely pointed out that she had not been to Europe either during an interview with Lester Holt.
However, it is not clear if and when she will make a trip to the hard-hit region.
Around 178,000 illegal immigrants arrived at the border in April alone, which marks the highest total in more than 20 years.
- Fionnuala O'Leary
LADIES NIGHT AT KAM'S
Though she may not be visiting the border during her visit to Latin America, Kamala Harris is able to make to host a Ladies Night, reports say.
Sources told Politico Momala would be hosting a dinner for the female senators, which used to be a once-quarterly bipartisan tradition.
Sixteen Democrats and eight Republicans will eat together at the Observatory to revive the sisterhood that has "certainly faded," an insider told the publications.
- Fionnuala O'Leary
US SEES MEXICO AS A 'PARTNER'
Kamala Harris issued a fawning tweet after meeting with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
- Fionnuala O'Leary
MAIN TAKEAWAYS
Kamala Harris confirmed the Biden administration would issue loans for affordable housing, infrastructure, and the cacao and coffee industry, her top advisor Symone Sanders told the New York Times.
The USA will also be forking out a whopping $130million over the course of three years in an effort to back labor protections for Mexican workers.
This would also fund provide forensic training to Mexican officials in an effort to find tens of thousands of missing people.
Speaking about her chat with Orador, Harris said: “He and I spent a significant amount of time together one on one."
She said their talk today was “very directed" and "candid.”
- Fionnuala O'Leary
AWKWARD GAFFE
Kamala Harris said "when I'm in Guatemala, dealing with root causes, I think we should have a conversation about what's going on in Guatemala" during her visit to Mexico.
The awkward gaffe came after she insisted that she "will go" to the hard-hit US-Mexico border.
Harris has not visited the area since coming into office and being tasked with addressing the border crisis.
- Fionnuala O'Leary
ATTENTION TO 'DETAILS'
During her meet up with women in business in Mexico today, Harris gave some words of wisdom.
The former attorney, who appeared on Forbes list of notable women over 50 this year, said: “I really want to have a conversation and get in there! Let’s get into the details."
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