Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance will visit the southern border this week as Republicans seek to tie Vice President Kamala Harris to the illegal immigration chaos of the past three years.

The Trump campaign said Mr. Vance will be in Cochise County, in southeastern Arizona, where he will argue that Ms. Harris was the Biden administration’s border czar and shares blame for a series of high-profile crimes attributed to illegal immigrants who entered on her watch.

Mr. Vance’s Thursday visit amid the campaign is meant to highlight Mr. Harris’ lack of attention to the border, with just a single visit in June 2021.

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Republicans had planned to use immigration as a major political weapon against President Biden and now find themselves trying to preserve it as an avenue of attack against Ms. Harris.

They argue she could unleash even more chaotic borders if she makes good on past suggestions to break down the current deportation agency and erase criminal penalties for illegal immigration.

Ms. Harris’ campaign, while objecting to calling her the border czar, is leaning into the issue, insisting things are better.

“Under Trump, America saw unprecedented violence, ineptitude and division. Right now, America is stronger and safer because of the work of the Biden-Harris administration,” said James Singer, a Harris campaign spokesman. “Violent crime is at record lows, the border is more secure and, unlike Donald Trump, the vice president is committed to enforcing the law, not breaking it.”