Calif. Sheriff ‘Really Upset’ Harris Featured Him in New Campaign Ad

A county sheriff in California is "really upset" that Vice President Kamala Harris included him in a recent campaign ad without seeking his approval or informing him beforehand.

"In response to a recent political ad released by Kamala Harris featuring Sheriff [Mike] Boudreaux and other local law enforcement, the Sheriff wants to make it clear that his image is being used without his consent, and he does NOT endorse Harris for President or any other political office," stated Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux.

Boudreaux, who has dedicated 37 years to the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office and currently serves as the president of the California State Sheriffs’ Association, was featured in video footage from 2013 when Harris was California's attorney general. This footage was used in the political ad.

The ad attempts to position Harris, who was appointed as 'border czar' by President Joe Biden, as a strong advocate for border security, claiming that "as Vice President, she supported the toughest border control bill in decades."

However, according to federal statistics, illegal crossings have reached record levels under the Biden-Harris administration. Harris has only visited the border once, and her efforts to address the "root causes" of illegal immigration have so far resulted in a single trip to Central America, the region where many migrants originate.

Boudreaux referred to Harris’s 2013 visit as “smoke and mirrors.”

"We were in the green room. She never came in and greeted any of us. She walked up, gave her press conference, and left without acknowledging us," Boudreaux said. "I'm disgusted because she didn’t shake hands or say hello, yet she's taking credit for the work that local law enforcement did."

"As Attorney General, Kamala Harris undermined the efforts of California law enforcement officials to prevent criminals from flooding our state with guns and drugs across the border," Boudreaux wrote.

He added, "She consistently defunded and shut down task forces designed to protect our communities, leaving the Valley and the state vulnerable. Kamala's attempt to present herself as tough on the border by implying my support – and that of neighboring law enforcement leaders – is pathetic."

Last month, the former chief of the U.S. Border Patrol union criticized Harris for her inadequate response to the causes of illegal immigration.

"It's very disappointing," Brandon Judd, who recently retired, told Fox News. "We provided her with the policies that needed to be implemented, but she refused to act on them."

Judd’s comments coincide with increasing criticism of Harris's record on immigration and border security, particularly after President Biden announced he would not be seeking reelection and instead would support Harris as his successor. Critics argue that Harris has not adequately addressed a key campaign issue that could impact the 2024 election.

In March 2021, President Biden appointed Harris to lead the administration's efforts to address migration, following concerns over the surge in illegal border crossings shortly after his election.

Fox News reported:

Later in 2021, Harris negotiated a memorandum of understanding with Mexico, which resulted in the U.S. sending $4 billion to help Central American countries address the root causes of illegal migration, with private companies contributing an additional $5.2 billion.

However, an NBC News report published Thursday revealed that Harris's work on the issue quickly lost momentum. Harris visited Mexico in June 2021 to sign an agreement for $4 billion in direct aid and $5.2 billion in private-public investment but has not visited the border or countries to its south since January 2022.

The report notes that since 2021, the Root Causes strategy has not made any new commitments.