Immigration, an important issue for Arizona voters

2024-10-13 18:12:43, Kosova & Bota CNA

Arizona is one of the important undecided states in this year's presidential race in the United States. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump know that winning the southwestern state is key to their path to the White House. Voice of America reporter Aline Barros spoke with voters in this state about the impact of the immigration issue on this year's elections.

Vice President Kamala Harris made her first trip to the US-Mexico border as a Democratic presidential candidate late last month.

She inspected a segment of the border wall in Douglas, Arizona, built during Barack Obama's presidency. Later, at a campaign rally in the same city, Ms Harris said the country's border must be well controlled, but she also called for a better way to welcome legal immigrants.

"We need to reform our immigration system to make sure it works properly, is humane and strengthens our country," she said.

Some Arizonans say immigration is the main reason they will vote for former President Donald Trump, who has promised to get tougher on illegal immigration.

"I have no problem with legal immigration."

But Republican voter Jane Degrezia says those who cross illegally should not be in the United States.

"It is very unfair for our country. It's dangerous."

Of the more than 4.1 million voters in Arizona, about 35% of them are registered Republicans, while just over 29% are registered Democrats. About 34% of voters fall into the "other" category, which includes independents and those not aligned with major parties.

"The pool of independent voters in Arizona is really growing."

Mark Kimble is chairman of the Citizens Regular Election Commission in Tucson, Arizona. He is registered as an independent voter. He says immigration is not a top issue for all voters.

"Republicans tend to say that immigration is a primary issue. Democrats are more likely to say the top issue is abortion. Independents are more likely to say abortion, but not the vast majority.”

Arizona is the only undecided state bordering Mexico that had a record number of immigrants in 2023.

On the day Ms. Harris visited the border, Mr. Trump, at a campaign rally in Michigan, again promised to close the border.

"We will begin the largest deportation operation in American history. We have no other choice," he said.

But Daniel Gutierrez, a young voter in Arizona, says he'd like to see an immigration system that doesn't keep families separated for so long.

"It's hard to see families separated."

Gutierrez says his father is a supporter of Mr. Trump, while his mother says she will vote for Democrat Kamala Harris.

While he himself says that he will support the Democratic Party.

"I have decided to vote for the Democratic Party."

While some Arizonans know who they'll be voting for in November, others are more focused on increasing voter turnout. Joseph Garcia is the executive director of the "Sí Se Vota" organization.