Spurred by reopening, more migrants head for U.S.-Mexico border

Migrants break for rest while traveling in a caravan heading to Mexico City, in Arriaga near the border with Oaxaca state, Mexico November 7, 2021. REUTERS/Raquel Cunha

TIJUANA (Reuters) - Emboldened by news that the United States and Mexico will reopen shared land-border crossings, hundreds of migrants have arrived at Mexican border cities like Tijuana, hoping the reset will make it easier to cross and seek U.S. asylum.

Starting on Monday, the nearly 2,000-mile (3,200-km) border will be open again to non-essential travel after a 20-month closure aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. Both countries have succeeded in lowering new infections and vaccinating border communities.