Politics is a messy business, honestly. When you look at the career of someone like Kamala Harris, you aren't just looking at a resume; you're looking at a trail of decisions that have sparked intense debate across the entire political spectrum. People often ask about the most controversial aspects of her past—or even what are some horrible things Kamala Harris has done—depending on who you ask and what their specific grievances are.
The truth is rarely a single headline. It’s a mix of tough-on-crime policies that angered the left and "progressive" shifts that infuriated the right. To understand the friction, you have to go back to her days as a prosecutor in San Francisco and her time as California’s "Top Cop."
The Truancy Law Controversy
One of the most frequent points of criticism involves a 2010 state truancy law that Harris championed. Basically, the idea was to reduce the number of kids skipping school by holding parents legally accountable. Harris argued that chronic truancy was a precursor to future crime. She famously told an audience that she was "putting parents on notice."
The fallout? In some jurisdictions, this led to the actual jailing of parents. One of the most cited cases involved Cheree Peoples, a mother whose daughter missed school due to complications from sickle-cell anemia. Peoples was arrested and paraded in front of cameras, a moment that critics point to as a prime example of overzealous prosecution. Harris later called the jailing of parents an "unintended consequence," but the law she sponsored specifically added a section to the California Penal Code allowing for fines and jail time.
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The "Top Cop" Era and the Left's Frustration
For a long time, Harris leaned into her "tough on crime" persona. During her 2020 presidential primary run, this became a massive liability. Critics from the progressive wing of the Democratic party—most notably Tulsi Gabbard during a viral debate moment—accused her of blocking evidence that could have freed an innocent man from death row.
Specifically, this refers to the case of Kevin Cooper. As Attorney General, Harris initially opposed DNA testing that Cooper’s lawyers argued could prove his innocence. She eventually changed her stance after a New York Times exposé and a push from Governor Jerry Brown, but the delay remains a major stain for those who value criminal justice reform.
There’s also the issue of marijuana. While she now supports federal legalization, her office oversaw over 1,500 marijuana-related convictions during her time as DA. The "horrible" label here often comes from the perceived hypocrisy of her later laughing about her own past use during a radio interview. It rubbed people the wrong way, to say the least.
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A Complicated Border Record
As Vice President, Harris was tasked with addressing the "root causes" of migration from Central America. This was a political landmine from the start. Republicans quickly dubbed her the "Border Czar," a title the White House pushed back on, but the optics were difficult to manage regardless of the terminology.
- The Numbers: During the Biden-Harris administration, illegal border crossings hit record highs, peaking at over 250,000 encounters in December 2023.
- The Flip-Flop: Critics point to her shifting stance on the border wall. Once calling it a "medieval vanity project," she later expressed support for a bipartisan border bill that included hundreds of millions in funding for border barriers.
- The Rhetoric: Her 2021 message to migrants in Guatemala—"Do not come"—angered immigration advocates who felt she was turning her back on asylum seekers.
The [suspicious link removed] Charges
In 2016, Harris made headlines for arresting the CEO of [suspicious link removed], Carl Ferrer. She charged him with pimping and conspiracy, alleging the site was essentially a "digital brothel." While many cheered the crackdown on sex trafficking, some legal experts and sex work advocates argued that the move was politically motivated and actually made sex workers less safe by pushing them off monitored platforms and back into the streets.
It’s one of those situations where the "horrible" thing depends entirely on your perspective of harm reduction versus law enforcement.
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Why It Matters Now
Whether you view these actions as "horrible" or simply the difficult choices of a career politician depends on your own values. For some, her record shows a leader willing to evolve; for others, it shows a "political chameleon" who adjusts her sails to whatever way the wind is blowing.
Honestly, the most important thing you can do is look at the primary sources. Don't just take a soundbite from a campaign ad. Look at the specific cases, the legislation she signed, and the results of those policies years later.
Next Steps for You:
If you want to dig deeper into the legal nuances, I recommend reading the actual text of California Senate Bill 1317 (the truancy law) or looking up the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rulings on the Kevin Cooper case. Seeing the legal arguments firsthand gives you a much clearer picture than any political commentary ever could.