President Biden’s “border czar,” Veep Kamala Harris, has chosen a fellow soft-on-illegal-immigration politician as her running mate.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, 60, who was named Harris’ vice presidential pick Tuesday, has supported efforts to turn his home state into a sanctuary state while also backing other stances that cater to undocumented migrants.
“My position on Minnesota becoming a sanctuary state boils down to who has the responsibility for enforcing immigration laws,” Walz told CBS News in 2018.
“Here’s what I believe: Congress has given federal agencies the authority to enforce immigration laws in Minnesota, and I support their doing so,” he said. “Congress has not given local law enforcement that same authority. The role of law enforcement is to enforce state and local laws, not federal immigration laws, and I strongly believe that they should not do so.”
“Sanctuary state” is an unofficial term that refers to states that limit or deny local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
As governor, Walz also has signed several pieces of legislation to provide state-funded health care, driver’s licenses and free college tuition to illegal migrants.
“Ensuring drivers in our state are licensed and carry insurance makes the roads safer for all Minnesotans,” Walz said in 2023 after signing the bill to allow thousands of illegal migrants in his state with driver’s licenses.
“As a longtime supporter of this bill, I am proud to finally sign it into law, making our roads safer and moving us toward our goal of making Minnesota the best state to raise a family for everyone.”
Walz also has “applauded” efforts to pull state troops from the southern border to protest the separation of migrant families under former President Donald Trump.
He also said he’d invest in a “ladder factory” when criticizing Trump’s border wall construction.
“I always say, ‘Let me know how high it is.’ If it’s 25 feet, then I’ll invest in a 30-foot-ladder factory. That’s not how you stop this,” Walz said at the time, adding that the border needs more technology and personnel.
Harris’ formal announcement revealing her pick for vice president is expected at a campaign event in Philadelphia on Tuesday evening, when the duo will appear together for the first time, four people close to the process told CNN.
Harris, the Dems’ presidential nominee, has led the Biden administration’s disastrous effort to discourage illegal immigration from Central America during record illegal crossings at the southern border.
She has also supported decriminalizing illegal immigration, likened ICE officers to the “KKK” and jumped on a false narrative that border agents whipped migrants.
Before becoming governor in 2018, Walz served in the Army National Guard for 24 years and a decade in the House of Reprsentatives.
