Walz: Harris doesn't support key benefits for undocumented immigrants
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Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to the media at Charlotte Air National Guard Base in California on Saturday. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says that Vice President Kamala Harris doesn't support programs for undocumented immigrants to qualify for government health care, free tuition at state universities and driver's licenses — a shift from her past positions.
- Asked whether Harris had changed her mind or if Walz — her running mate — had misspoken during a Sunday interview, Harris' campaign didn't respond.
Why it matters: Since entering the presidential race in July, Harris has backed away from or declined to comment about several of her progressive positions from the past — particularly on immigration.
- The millions of undocumented immigrants in the country largely are blocked from accessing federal health care and financial aid programs.
- Walz's comments suggest a Harris administration wouldn't change those limits.
Driving the news: On "Fox News Sunday," host Shannon Bream asked Walz about his record as governor of Minnesota.
- Bream quoted a Wall Street Journal story that said Walz signed laws "allowing immigrants in the country illegally to apply for driver's licenses, qualify for free tuition at state universities and enroll in the state's free healthcare program for low-income residents."
- Walz responded: "That's not the vice president's position."
In the past, however, Harris has said she opposes excluding undocumented immigrants from such programs.
- When Harris was running for president in 2019, CNN's Jake Tapper asked Harris if she believed undocumented immigrants would qualify for her Medicare for All program.
- Harris responded: "Let me just be very clear about this," Harris said.
- "I am opposed to any policy that would deny in our country any human being from access to public safety, public education or public health, period."
Reality check: Harris has become more hawkish on several immigration policies such as asylum, but Donald Trump is pledging to enact some of the harshest crackdowns on undocumented people in American history.
- They'd include mass deportations of millions of undocumented immigrants, along with people who have temporary protected status.
Flashback: During her presidential run in 2019, Harris and her campaign said she supported government health care programs covering undocumented immigrants.
- As California's attorney general in 2014 and 2015, Harris helped ensure access for undocumented immigrants to get driver's licenses after the state passed a law allowing it.
- During the Trump administration, she praised the state university systems for providing emergency relief to undocumented students brought here as children — sometimes called "Dreamers."
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trump administration denied undocumented students access to grants for college students.
She wrote at the time: "Great news. Thank you @UofCalifornia and @calstate for stepping up to provide relief to DACA students and Dreamers after the Trump administration denied them financial support."
- 25 states plus Washington, D.C., grant undocumented immigrants in-state tuition, and 19 states plus D.C. allow them access to state financial aid, according to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal.
