‘SO DISAPPOINTING’
AOC blasts Kamala Harris for telling migrants not to come and accuses US of ‘setting Latin America on fire’
ALEXANDRIA Ocasio-Cortez ripped into Vice President Kamala Harris for telling illegal immigrants not to come here after the United States "set Latin America on fire."
AOC made inflammatory comments as made during a news conference with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei.
10
10
10
After the vice president told people in the region thinking of making the dangerous journey, "do not come [to the US]," described the statement as "disappointing."
"This is disappointing to see," the far-left politician tweeted. "First, seeking asylum at any US is a 100 [percent] 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."
Her rant comes after Harris pleaded with migrants not to enter the US illegally given the escalating crisis in border regions of the country.
"I want to be clear to folks in this region who are thinking about making that dangerous trek to the -Mexico border: Do not come. Do not come," Harris said.
's VP then confirmed that anyone who flouted these instructions and arrived illegally would be "turned back."
During an interview with that aired on Tuesday, Harris also defended her decision not to visit the border.
![Ocasio-Cortez said 'seeking asylum at any US border is a 100 [percent] legal method of arrival'](http://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/06/NINTCHDBPICT000652750334.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
10
10
"At some point, you know, we are going to the border. We've been to the border," Harris said when asked if she has plans to visit. "So this whole thing about the border. We've been to the border.
"And I haven't been to Europe. And I mean, I don't understand the point that you're making. I'm not discounting the importance of the border."
"I'm in because my focus is dealing with the root causes of migration.
"There may be some who think that that is not important, but it is my firm belief that if we care about what's happening at the border, we better care about the root causes and address them. And so that's what I'm doing.”
Harris and Giammattei participated in a joint briefing during her first trip to the hard-hit region, where Biden has tasked her with addressing the "root causes" of illegal immigration at the end of March.
10
10
10
She previously cited hurricanes, persistent drought, and the Covid-19 crisis as triggers for mass immigration.
Giammattei said the US has been asked to give a clearer message on immigration and Harris pulled no punches in her address.
The vice president is set to make a number of appearances in today before flying back to this evening.
The news comes after Harris was taunted by protesters upon her arrival in Guatemala .
When she arrived, the vice president dismissed visiting the border, insisting that the administration are focusing on "tangible" results, despite "Republicans' political attacks or criticism or even concerns."
Most read in News
"The reason I am here in Guatemala as my first trip as vice president of the United States is because this is one of our highest priorities," she went on.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"I came here to be here on the ground, to speak with the leader of this nation around what we can do in a way that is significant, is tangible and has real results.
"And I will continue to be focused on that kind of work as opposed to grand gestures."
10
10
AOC slams ‘inhuman and horrifying’ border crisis and demands reparations for migrants after ‘white supremacist’ rant
Topics