Kamala Harris says 'equity' should be a focus of Congress' border talks

During an interview with CNN, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke about US border security, or lack therof, saying that negotiations surrounding the topic in Congress should focus on concerns regarding "equity."  

The inteview on Monday with CNN's Laura Coates covered multiple issues surrounding immigration and the border crisis.  

During a portion of the interview, when addressing illegal immigrants who were brought to the US as children and general border security negotiations going on in Congress, Harris said, "I will tell you that the negotiations that are happening now, I hope, are going to be directed at solutions that are genuinely focused on fixing the problem, including all the equities that you mentioned." 

Equity has been a focus of the administration since taking office in 2021. In November 2020, Harris released a video on equity, saying "So there’s a big difference between equality and equity. Equality suggests, 'oh everyone should get the same amount.' The problem with that, not everybody’s starting out from the same place. So if we’re all getting the same amount, but you started out back there and I started out over here, we could get the same amount, but you’re still going to be that far back behind me. It’s about giving people the resources and the support they need, so that everyone can be on equal footing, and then compete on equal footing. Equitable treatment means we all end up in the same place."

In another portion of the interview, Coates praised Harris, saying, "I'm struck just being in your presence. I was watching you on stage. Looking at you in the eye with your passion." 

Coates then asked why Harris thought that some have insulted the vice president about her capabilities if she were to become the next president, taking the place of current President Joe Biden. Harris replied, suggesting that the insults were about sexism towards women who have advanced in their careers, saying, "Most women who have risen in their profession, who are leaders in their profession, have had similar experiences." 

"I was the first woman to be elected district attorney, I was the first woman to be elected attorney general of the state of California, and I'm the first woman to be vice president. And I love my job," Harris concluded.