Kamala Harris is trying to reinvent herself as the voice of reason on immigration, but let’s be real, no one is buying it. During her speech in Chicago, where she accepted the Democratic nomination for president, she tried to walk the fine line between appeasing her left-wing base and reaching out to the moderates. But in doing so, she’s not fooling anyone, especially Republicans who know her track record all too well.

Harris mentioned that she would sign a bipartisan border bill negotiated by the White House earlier this year. This sudden shift towards the center is a far cry from her 2020 stance when she was all about reforming Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It’s clear she’s trying to shake off her image as an open-borders advocate, knowing full well that the border crisis will be a top issue in the 2024 election. But as much as she tries to pivot, her past support for lenient immigration policies continues to haunt her.

Harris made sure to throw a bone to her progressive supporters by advocating for legal status for illegal immigrants. She talked about creating an “earned pathway to citizenship,” something that’s sure to rile up Republicans. It’s the same tired rhetoric we’ve heard before, but now with a sprinkle of so-called “bipartisanship.” Stephen Miller, a former Trump White House senior adviser, was quick to call out Harris’s proposal for what it is…amnesty, plain and simple. In a social media post, he didn’t mince words, labeling her plan as nothing more than a free pass for every illegal alien in the country.

It’s no wonder Republicans are skeptical. We’ve been down this road before. Remember Ronald Reagan’s 1986 amnesty deal? Millions of illegal immigrants were granted amnesty with the promise of tighter border controls. Fast forward a few decades, and we’re still dealing with the consequences of that decision. So when Harris starts talking about comprehensive immigration reform, it’s no surprise that conservatives are raising their eyebrows.

When Biden first took office, his administration pushed for the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021. It was touted as a way to overhaul decades of immigration policy and provide a pathway to citizenship for millions. But Congress wasn’t having it, and the bill didn’t make it past the Senate. Even a later attempt at a bipartisan border bill in 2023 went down in flames, thanks to Trump urging House Republicans to reject it. Harris might think she can revive these failed efforts, but history isn’t on her side.

Harris also tried to play tough during her speech, promising not to “play politics with our security.” But that statement rings hollow when you consider her history of flip-flopping on immigration. Chad Wolf, the former acting secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, didn’t hold back in his critique. He accused Harris of having a radical agenda, pointing out that the U.S. Citizenship Act would be the most expansive amnesty for illegal aliens ever introduced. Wolf isn’t alone in his concerns. Many Republicans fear that Harris’s policies would only exacerbate the border crisis, not solve it.

And let’s not forget the pressure Harris will face from the progressive wing of her party. They’re not interested in moderate solutions, they want bold action, like shutting down private immigration detention centers. Harris might talk a good game about balancing security and compassion, but she’s going to have a tough time keeping everyone happy. She’s already signaled that she’ll continue some of Biden’s border protocols, like limiting the number of asylum seekers, but is that really enough to win over voters?

The media may spin Harris’s immigration stance as a thoughtful approach, but Republicans see right through it. The number of border crossings may have dropped recently, but that doesn’t change the fact that Harris was part of an administration that allowed the crisis to spiral out of control in the first place. Now, she’s trying to distance herself from that mess, but it’s too little, too late.

In the end, Harris’s immigration plan is as vague as it is controversial. She might think she can navigate the tricky waters of immigration reform, but Republicans are ready to hold her accountable. After all, talk is cheap, and Harris has been talking for years without delivering any real results.