During a recent appearance on NBC’s “MTP Now,” Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) weighed in on Vice President Kamala Harris’ border record and the potential impact of Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) on the issue. Host Gabe Gutierrez asked Bennet if Kelly’s involvement could help counter the Trump campaign’s attacks on Harris’ border record.
Bennet replied that Kelly’s understanding of the border, as a senator from a border state, could be beneficial in addressing the issue. However, he emphasized that the real challenge lies in the Republicans’ unwillingness to find a solution. Bennet recalled his experience as part of the Gang of Eight, a bipartisan group that drafted a comprehensive immigration bill that passed the Senate with 68 votes ten years ago.
Despite the bill’s success in the Senate, it was ultimately killed by the Freedom Caucus in the House, according to Bennet. He attributed this to the Republicans’ desire to use immigration as a campaign issue rather than genuinely seeking a solution. Bennet argued that the country needs to address the issue in a comprehensive manner, as outlined in the Gang of Eight bill, which included securing the border, providing a pathway to citizenship for 11 million people, and implementing the DREAM Act and visa bills crucial to the agriculture sector.
Bennet expressed confidence that, with the right leadership in Washington, the country can find a solution to the immigration issue. He emphasized the importance of working together to address the problem, rather than allowing it to remain a partisan campaign issue.
