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CHC Is Banking On Kamala Harris Pivoting on Immigration

Harris has adopted an immigration proposal as part of her platform that many lawmakers in the CHC hate. They’re hoping Harris’ message is just her in “campaign mode.”

Nanette Barragan AP-22117458056236
CHC Chair Rep. Nanette Barragan says she thinks Harris could be one of the “most pro-immigrant presidents.” Andrew Harnik/AP

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus, once loudly furious with the Democrats’ conservative tack on immigration, has fallen curiously silent on Vice President Kamala Harris making the bipartisan immigration bill central to her platform.

But privately, progressive lawmakers and those in the CHC are worried this rightward shift in border policies will go beyond election year politics and could become more ingrained in the party.

“There’s a lot of concern about what we’re hearing. People want her to win the election, but it’s out of step with where Democrats have been for the last 20 years,” one House Democrat told NOTUS, requesting anonymity to speak freely about the caucus’ political calculations. “At some point, there has to be a reckoning about that.”