Tesla Inc CEO Elon Musk reacted to a viral video on Twitter showing hundreds of migrants gathering along the U.S.-Mexico border as the U.S. lifts pandemic-era law.
What Happened: On Friday, Musk quoted a tweet from The New York Times on Twitter, which included visuals of migrants crossing the river and waiting outside the U.S. border in anticipation of the Title 42 policy expiry.
“Wow,” said Musk.
Why It Matters: At midnight, the restrictions on asylum imposed in 2020 – that allowed border officials to quickly return asylum seekers over the border on the grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19 – were lifted.
This massive influx of migrants came as people hurried to enter the U.S. before new regulations announced by President Joe Biden‘s administration came into effect.
The House of Representatives on Thursday passed the U.S. government’s new measures to curb illegal border crossings and provide legal pathways for migrants who undergo background checks and seek a sponsor online.
The success of these reforms could significantly change how migrants arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border, but it may take some time to see the results.
Many migrants were aware of the new policies to prevent illegal crossings and encourage asylum seekers to consider applying online or seeking alternative destinations, such as Canada or Spain.
The massive influx of migrants comes as a setback for team Biden, whose recent actions, including the deployment of troops, have shown that they are increasingly concerned about the possibility of a surge in illegal border crossings and the potential political backlash that could result.
Despite Biden's promise to establish a more controlled immigration policy, illegal crossings have become a significant political vulnerability for his administration.
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