Vice President Kamala Harris to Visit U.S.-Mexico Border for the First Time

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is set to visit the U.S.-Mexico border with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Friday, June 25, according to the White House.

Republicans have criticized Harris for refusing to go to the border until now since U.S. President Joe Biden had tasked her with addressing the root causes of migration influx at the southern border, according to a CBS News report.

Harris had earlier visited Guatemala and Mexico this month. She was asked why she was not visiting the border, which she answered by comparing not visiting the border to not visiting Europe.

Senior adviser Symone Sanders said in a statement that Harris will travel to El Paso, Texas.

Criticisms on Harris Visiting The Border

Despite the announcement of her scheduled visit, many of her Republican critics were still not satisfied.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said that El Paso is not "the locus of the crisis." He added that Harris is going where the height of the problem is not, according to a CNBC report.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump also commented on Harris visiting the border, claiming that he pushed Harris to make the trip.

Harris will be going to the southern border a week before Trump.

Trump said that if Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and he were not going there next week, Harris would never visit.

A Texas Democratic congressman who represents a part of the border sent a letter to the vice president, encouraging her to see the situation at the southern border firsthand.

Rep. Henry Cuellar said that he believes Harris must get to meet with local stakeholders and residents, considering their concerns, according to a USA Today report.

Cuellar added that the administration needs to take a proactive approach to create a sustainable system of aid and relief.

Meanwhile, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that Harris' visit is part of the coordinated effort between her office, her work, and the Department of Homeland Security.

She also denied that the vice president's trip was a political decision as determined by the former president visiting the border.

Guatemala and Mexico Visit

Harris told migrants in Guatemala not to come during her visit to the Latin American country, which pushed a new round of criticism.

Immigration advocates had accused the vice president of undermining immigration law, as well as Biden's promise to restore an asylum-processing system at the border, according to The New York Times report.

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized Harris for saying undocumented immigrants from Guatemala should not come to the U.S.

Ocasio-Cortez said that seeking asylum at any U.S. border is a 100 percent legal method of arrival. She added that they cannot help set someone's house on fire and blame them for fleeing, according to The Guardian report.

She also visited Mexico City, saying that there was no question that her work in Central America would have a positive effect on the region.

Harris noted that it is not a new issue for the United States to feel the root causes on their shores.

WATCH: Harris to make first trip to U.S.-Mexico border Friday to assess situation with migrants - from Los Angeles Times