In a fiery press call held on Friday, several “Angel Moms” took Vice President Kamala Harris to task over what they see as a glaring failure to address the U.S.-Mexico border crisis.
The press call, organized by the Trump campaign, featured mothers who have lost children due to crimes and drug overdoses linked to illegal immigration. Their criticisms were sharply directed at Harris, who recently made her first visit to the southern border since June 2021, a visit many see as little more than a photo-op during her re-election campaign.
This event marked a fresh wave of criticism against Harris, who has long been accused of neglecting her duties as the Biden Administration’s “border czar.” Despite holding the role, Harris has faced growing frustration from those who feel her actions—or lack thereof—have led to tragic outcomes for American families.
The press call, a platform for mothers whose children were either murdered by illegal immigrants or overdosed on fentanyl trafficked across the border, came just a day after Harris visited Arizona’s southern border in an apparent attempt to shore up her political standing on this contentious issue.
Heartbreaking Stories of Loss and Frustration
Patty Morin, one of the grieving mothers on the call, shared the tragic story of her daughter, who was murdered by an illegal immigrant from El Salvador. The circumstances surrounding her daughter’s brutal death at the hands of a gang member underscore the deeply personal stakes for these women. “I would tell her, put all the border protections back into place that she and President Biden had stopped in those first hundred days,” Morin said.
She voiced strong support for stricter border controls, expressing her frustration that millions of undocumented immigrants have crossed into the U.S. with little accountability.
Echoing these sentiments, Alexis Nungaray shared the harrowing experience of losing her 12-year-old daughter, Jocelyn, who was also murdered by an illegal immigrant. Nungaray expressed deep anger over Harris’s sudden interest in the border, noting that Harris has had nearly four years to act and has done little to prevent such tragedies. “Would she only do that if it was someone that mattered to her?” Nungaray asked pointedly, accusing Harris of treating the border crisis as a campaign tool rather than a humanitarian issue.
Anne Fundner, whose son died of a fentanyl overdose in 2022, also lambasted Harris for her recent visit to the border, describing it as a cynical move for campaign purposes. Fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid, has flooded into the U.S., exacerbating the opioid crisis.
Fundner blamed Harris for failing to stem the flow of illegal drugs into the country, criticizing her border visit as “late coming to the table.” Fundner called for the reinstatement of the Trump-era “Remain in Mexico” policy, which she believes could help stem the tide of illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
Harris’ Border Photo-Op Draws Ire
Harris’s visit to the Arizona border was her first since 2021, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by her critics. The Vice President’s trip was described by Angel Moms and many conservative pundits as a “20-minute photo-op” designed to deflect from her failure to address the border crisis effectively during her tenure as Border Czar.
According to reports, Harris’s visit focused on the flow of fentanyl into the country—a problem that has worsened dramatically since she assumed office. The U.S. has seized over 30 tons of fentanyl at the southern border since 2021, but the Angel Moms believe that’s only a fraction of the problem, as untold amounts of the deadly drug continue to make their way into American communities(Townhall)(The Gateway Pundit).
Patty Morin's daughter, Rachel, was raped & killed by a Kamala illegal.
Alexis Nungaray's daughter, Jocelyn, was raped & killed by Kamala illegals.
Anne Fundner's son, Weston, was killed by fentanyl trafficked across Kamala's open border.
Kamala hasn't contacted any of them. pic.twitter.com/L9P008Qc1P
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) September 27, 2024
Trump Campaign’s Push on Border Security
The Trump campaign has been quick to capitalize on Harris’s perceived weaknesses on border security. As a key issue in the 2024 election, the border remains a major vulnerability for the Biden-Harris administration.
Donald Trump has long made immigration enforcement and border security central pillars of his platform, and events like Friday’s press call serve to highlight the human toll of lax immigration policies under the current administration.
Angel Moms like Morin, Nungaray, and Fundner have become powerful symbols in Trump’s bid to regain the White House, underscoring the administration’s commitment to stricter border enforcement.
Political Ramifications
The Angel Moms’ stories add emotional weight to an already charged political issue. Their criticism of Harris taps into broader concerns that the Biden administration has not done enough to secure the border and protect American lives from the consequences of illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
As the 2024 campaign heats up, the Trump campaign is likely to continue using such voices to draw a stark contrast between his administration’s border policies and those of the Biden-Harris administration.
With the border crisis poised to be a defining issue in the upcoming election, Harris’s recent visit to Arizona may have only underscored her political vulnerability on the matter.
As Angel Moms continue to voice their frustrations, the pressure will mount for Harris to do more than just stage photo-ops. For many families who have been directly affected by the crisis, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
