Listen to Kamala Harris’ Response When Confronted With AOC Border Criticism

Vice President Kamala Harris was confonted by reporters with Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s criticism of her statement imploring Central American migrants not to make the dangerous journey to the U.S./Mexico border.

The vice president spoke with reporters before departing Guatemala for Mexico, and was asked in near real-time about criticisms that AOC has levelled using her Twitter account.

On Monday evening, Ocasio-Cortez tweeted vidoe of the VP imploring migrants “Don’t come” on the dangerous trek — which has been President Joe Biden’s position for several months — and wrote “This is disappointing to see.”

The New York congresswoman added “First, seeking asylum at any US border is a 100% legal method of arrival. Second, the US spent decades contributing to regime change and destabilization in Latin America. We can’t help set someone’s house on fire and then blame them for fleeing.”

It would be helpful if the US would finally acknowledge its contributions to destabilization and regime change in the region.

Doing so can help us change US foreign policy, trade policy, climate policy, & carceral border policy to address causes of mass displacement & migration.

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 7, 2021

In a followup tweet, Ocasio-Cortez wrote that “It would be helpful if the US would finally acknowledge its contributions to destabilization and regime change in the region. Doing so can help us change US foreign policy, trade policy, climate policy, & carceral border policy to address causes of mass displacement & migration.”

Within minutes of those messages, a reporter confronted Harris on the tarmac with AOC’s criticism, saying “Why did you emphasize that people shouldn’t come? AOC is now being critical of that, sort of, emphasis that you made.”

“I’m really clear: we have to deal with the root causes, and that is my focus,” the VP said, then added, “Period.”

Listen above via White House pool.