Vice President Kamala Harris has faced significant criticism regarding her handling of the Border Patrol and border security issues during her tenure as the so-called “border czar” under the Biden administration. Despite her promises to strengthen border security, including pledges to hire thousands more Border Patrol agents, the reality has been starkly different. Since October 2020, the Border Patrol has seen the departure of more than 4,000 agents, a figure that is double the number who left during the Obama and Trump administrations, according to the Washington Examiner. This exodus has left the agency with about 19,000 employees, significantly impacting its ability to manage the ongoing migrant crisis.

Former Yuma Border Patrol Chief Chris Clem has voiced concerns about the situation, highlighting that morale among Border Patrol agents has plummeted under the Biden-Harris administration. Clem criticized Harris for her perceived disconnect between her public statements and the reality faced by border security personnel. He argued that Harris’s portrayal of herself as a supporter of border security only exacerbates the already low morale among the agents. Clem’s comments reflect a broader sentiment among Border Patrol agents who feel that their efforts are not being adequately supported or recognized by the current administration.

In an attempt to address the recruitment crisis, the Border Patrol has increased its sign-on bonuses from $10,000 to $30,000 and has even begun allowing retired agents to reenlist. Despite these efforts, retaining staff remains a major challenge. Many agents are choosing to retire early due to the stressful working conditions and the high levels of illegal immigration, which have strained resources and morale. The situation has been further exacerbated by record levels of migrant encounters at U.S. borders, surpassing 10 million, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data.

The Border Patrol has also faced a troubling rise in suicides among its personnel, a consequence of the high-pressure environment and the surge in illegal immigration. In 2022, the number of suicides among CBP employees reached a peak of 15, prompting the agency to hire its first suicidologist to address the mental health crisis within its ranks.

Amidst these challenges, Vice President Harris has attempted to bolster her image with a new campaign ad that highlights her commitment to border security. The ad claims that as president, she would hire thousands more border agents and intensify efforts to combat fentanyl and human trafficking. However, many agents view this as a hollow promise, given their current struggles and the negative impact of Harris’s earlier statements and actions.

Harris’s visit to the southern border in June 2021 has also been criticized by those who were present. Border agents described the visit as a sanitized, rushed tour that did not accurately reflect the harsh realities they face daily. This perception of disinterest and lack of genuine engagement with the issues has further fueled discontent among Border Patrol agents.

Additionally, Harris’s past actions and statements have contributed to her strained relationship with the Border Patrol. In 2018, as a U.S. Senator, Harris was among those who rejected President Trump’s proposal for additional Border Patrol funding. More recently, her comments about the border agents involved in the controversial 2021 incident with Haitian migrants, where they were falsely accused of whipping the migrants, have been viewed as further damaging. Harris had compared the incident to America’s history of slavery, which many Border Patrol agents felt was an unjust and inflammatory critique of their work.

The ongoing issues with recruitment, retention, and morale within the Border Patrol reflect broader challenges in managing U.S. border security. The Biden-Harris administration’s approach to addressing these issues has been met with skepticism and criticism from those directly involved in the field, as well as from political opponents who argue that the administration’s policies have failed to deliver on their promises of enhanced border security and support for Border Patrol personnel.