Border crossings top 10,000 daily as migrants seek US entry before Title 42 ends

A general view shows the U.S.- Mexico border wall, as the United States prepares to lift COVID-19 era restrictions known as Title 42, that have blocked migrants at the U.S.- Mexico border from seeking asylum since 2020, in Tijuana, Mexico May 9, 2023. REUTERS/Jorge Duenes/

SAN DIEGO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Thousands of migrants are crossing into the United States this week before a new regulation takes effect that could bar most who cross illegally from seeking asylum, while others gathered on the Mexico side amid confusion about U.S. policy.

The U.S. rolled out a regulation on Wednesday that presumes most migrants are ineligible for asylum if they passed through other nations without seeking protection elsewhere first, or if they failed to use legal pathways for U.S. entry.