Ken Salazar’s Presidential Aspirations and Border Policy

Ken Salazar, who served as the U.S. ambassador to Mexico during President Joe Biden’s administration, considered launching a presidential bid against Biden in 2024. This revelation comes from an excerpt of a book obtained by Politico. Salazar contemplated this move after witnessing Biden’s challenging debate performance in July 2024.

Salazar expressed his concerns about the administration’s approach to border issues. He had previously advised Biden to address the situation at the U.S. border as a crisis. According to Salazar, there was a significant disconnect in understanding and acknowledging the seriousness of the border crisis, which could impact Democrats in the upcoming election.

Salazar mentioned, “Officials within the administration used the word ‘crisis’ regularly, but the White House was reluctant to label it as such.”

Salazar’s attempts to push for a border czar position were noted, suggesting officials like Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas were overwhelmed by the border situation. Mayorkas reportedly responded to Salazar’s suggestions by highlighting his own challenges, including facing potential impeachment.

Despite assembling a team and drafting a platform, Salazar never officially entered the presidential race. He intended to announce his candidacy if Biden stepped down, but the Democratic Party chose Vice President Kamala Harris as their candidate without an open primary, a decision Salazar criticized.

Salazar also commented on Harris’s role as the border czar, emphasizing that her efforts did not have the desired impact on migration. He noted that while she aimed to address the root causes of migration, her effectiveness was questioned.

“Sadly, her designation in this position was having no effect on migration flows,” Salazar remarked in the book.

Salazar, with his background as Colorado’s first Hispanic senator and a lawyer of Mexican descent, praised Biden’s later decision to secure the border in 2024, but acknowledged that this response came too late. As a result, the border issue dominated the late stages of the presidential election.

Salazar’s book, “Borderlands: My Fight For An Inclusive America,” outlines his ongoing efforts to advise potential Democratic candidates on immigration policy. He advocates for a comprehensive solution to the broken U.S. immigration system.

Salazar has already discussed his proposals with political figures like Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, with plans to engage Illinois Governor JB Pritzker as well.

Fox News Digital reached out to Salazar, Pritzker, Gallego, and Kelly for their comments on these matters.