VP contender, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, slams Trump on immigration bill failure

Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly bashed Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump over immigration issues, claiming he killed a bipartisan border control effort in order to campaign on the issue.

Kelly, who is also a contender to become Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate, appeared on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" Wednesday in his first television interview since President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race.

"I represent a border state...I can't stress more that this is an issue that Donald Trump and Republicans just want to talk about," Kelly said in the appearance. "Kamala Harris is about solving problems. Donald Trump wants to take us, drag us back a decade."

Immigration control, especially on the U.S.'s southern border, has been a key talking point for Republicans. Here is what to know about the issue and Kelly's interview.

More: Trump calls Harris 'evil' at rally as Republicans struggle to coalesce on attacks

Bipartisan border bill killed earlier this year

A border bill negotiated by a bipartisan group of Senators over the winter was voted down twice this year. The bill was partially intended to woo Republicans to pass a foreign aid bill that would earmark $95 billion for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

Biden endorsed the border package, which would have shortened the window for asylum consideration, make it harder to qualify, and temporarily stop processing applications for people who cross illegally under certain circumstances.

While it had initial support from a significant number of GOP lawmakers, Trump came out in opposition of the bill and Senate Republicans followed suit. Democrats started using the bills' failure to call Republicans hypocritical and Republicans called the sure-to-fail bill a political stunt.

"We realize we've got to get operational control over the border. I realize this, Kamala Harris realizes this, and this legislation was going to do that," Kelly said. "This was stopped dead in its tracks by Donald Trump, because he wanted to have this as an election issue."

Kelly also made jabs at vice presidential nominee JD Vance, who is scheduled to visit the border in Arizona Thursday morning, calling it a "photo op."

Kelly brings immigration experience to veepstakes, dodges questions on candidacy

Kelly repeatedly pledged to help get Harris elected, but declined to answer questions about how he sees his standing among potential running mates.

Kelly is reportedly still in the running along with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Kelly was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2020, and was previously an astronaut and a U.S. Navy captain.

Among the contenders, Kelly could bring more experience with border issues.

"I'm down at the border all the time meeting with mayors, sheriffs, NGOs down there," Kelly said in the Wednesday interview. "It's a hard problem to solve."

Contributing: Riley Beggin, Elizabeth Beyer, USA TODAY; Ronald J. Hansen, Arizona Republic

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: VP candidate Mark Kelly on Donald Trump's immigration plans