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NBC NEWS

Biden tasks Harris with 'stemming the migration' on southern border

The vice president is expected to focus on both curbing the current flow of migrants and coordinating with countries in the region to address the root causes of migration.

March 24, 2021, 2:28 PM CDT / Updated March 24, 2021, 1:30 PM CDT
By Lauren Egan, Gabe Gutierrez and Dareh Gregorian

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that he has appointed Vice President Kamala Harris to lead efforts to stem migration across the U.S.-Mexico border, as the administration faces growing political pressure to address a surge in undocumented migrant children unaccompanied by parents.

Biden said during an immigration meeting at the White House that he had asked Harris to lead the administration's efforts with Mexico and the Northern Triangle — El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, countries that will "need help stemming the movement of so many folks, stemming the migration to our southern border."

A senior administration official said Harris' role would focus on "two tracks": both curbing the current flow of migrants and implementing a long-term strategy that addresses the root causes of migration. Cabinet members, including the secretary of state, are expected to work closely with Harris on these issues.

Biden, who as vice president was tasked by then-President Barack Obama with coordinating on similar efforts in Central America, said he learned during that time that "if you deal with the problems in the country, it benefits everyone." There were a number of issues the United States could help the region address, ranging from violence to natural disasters, that he said were ignored by the previous administration.

Harris, seated by Biden's side, echoed the assessment. "There is no question that this is a challenging situation," she said.

Harris said she planned to work with a number of stakeholders including the private sector, civil society and members of Congress who share the administration's interest in addressing the root causes of migration.

The president's announcement comes as he has scrambled to find a solution that provides care for thousands of those unaccompanied children during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, while also working with Central American countries to address long-term solutions to migration in that region.