(NewsNation) — Hundreds of migrants have left southern Mexico in a caravan headed toward the United States border.

Some have hopes of crossing before November’s election, fearing potential immigration policy changes Donald Trump might enact if reelected as president.

The migrants departed from a city near Mexico’s border with Guatemala on Sunday to embark on a dangerous journey that takes months.

This comes as all eyes are on Vice President Kamala Harris as Democrats rally around her as the next Democratic presidential nominee.

Harris’ role on border policy under scrutiny

Harris was tasked with combating the root causes of migration from Central America’s Northern Triangle region.

However, migrant encounters at the southern border have surged to record highs under the Biden-Harris administration in the last two years.

In June, the Biden administration implemented tougher immigration restrictions, which reduced crossings, but they remain significantly higher than prepandemic levels.

“I don’t know that the work that she did would have an immediate impact on the border, but I do know that it is a piece of a bigger puzzle when we think about how to manage the border and manage our migration system in a way that takes into account the realities of why people leave their homes,” said Laura Collins, director of the Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative.

The surge in migrant encounters has influenced views on immigration, with a Gallup poll indicating that 55% of Americans now want to see immigration levels decrease, compared to 41% last year.

Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens told NewsNation he hasn’t spoken to Harris since he was appointed to the job last summer.