In the final days of a three-year-long Covid-19 policy, hundreds of migrants have amassed this week in the border city of Tijuana near the sprawling wall that divides Mexico from the United States, as reported by the news agency Reuters. In a major policy shift, The US is set to lift COVID-19 restrictions that have blocked migrants caught at the U.S.-Mexico border from seeking asylum since 2020.
The policy also known as Title 42 will expire at midnight on May 11, which will prompt a rush of migrants to the border, who are now huddled under black plastic or makeshift tents waiting to cross into the US, as reported by Reuters. "Nothing like this has been seen before," said Enrique Lucero, Tijuana's director of migrant affairs, as quoted by Reuters. According to activists, queues of migrants began arriving this week in the city of Tijuana with an expectation to get ahead of a potential rush in asylum applications after May 11.
Some have attempted to cross illegally instead of waiting, they further said. However, the US has insisted the end of the policy does not mean borders will be open.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Monday he would hold a video call with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden on Tuesday, with migration among the key topics to be discussed. According to Reuters, the Biden administration and the Texas state government are sending reinforcements to the border to prepare for a possible increase in illegal immigration.