Fact-checking Kamala Harris’ speech in Cochise County after border visit

DOUGLAS, AZ (AZFamily) — Vice President Kamala Harris visited the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday in an effort to address what critics say is her biggest weakness: her record on immigration and border issues.

Harris also talking about the ongoing fight on the drug trade during a campaign speech in Douglas, an overwhelmingly Democratic border town in GOP-dominated Cochise County.

We fact-checked claims made during her speech as part of Arizona’s Family commitment to hold political candidates and elected officials accountable before, during, and after the election cycle.

In August, we fact-checked Former President Donald Trump during his visit to Sierra Vista.

Earlier in the summer, we fact-checked claims made by Harris during a campaign event in Phoenix focused on abortion rights.

Claim: Harris on the topic of border agent pay

Fact-Check: ✅ True

The overtime funding was approved as a part of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. President Biden signed the act into law in December 2023. The special overtime pay for Border Patrol was approved for agents at the GS-12 employment level.

The NDAA passed the U.S. Senate 87-14 and the U.S. House 310-118. Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ06) was the only Arizona Republican to vote for the NDAA. Reps. Biggs, Crane, Gosar, Lesko and Schweikert voted no.

Claim: Kamala Harris worked to break up a trafficking ring with cartel ties

Fact-Check: ✅ True

In May 2012, the California Attorney General’s Office, which was led by Kamala Harris at that time, announced the 12 arrests in connection to a heroin trafficking ring in the Bay area.

“Operation Middle Man” also seized nine guns and led to the arrest of 28-year-old Carlos Jose Moreno who was affiliated with the Mexican “Norteno” gang, according to a report by CBS affiliate KPIX.

Claim: Biden-Harris administration told China to “crack down” on precursor chemicals of fentanyl

Fact-Check: ✅ True

In November 2023, the Biden Administration helped negotiate counternarcotics operations with China which aimed to shut down companies who help sell precursor chemicals that fuel the international drug trade.

Media outlets in China reported that increased government control and surveillance of these precursor chemicals went into effect on Sept. 1, 2024.

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