Tech billionaire Elon Musk has announced that he will be visiting the southern border in Eagle Pass, Texas in the coming days to witness the ongoing migrant crisis firsthand. This comes as the crisis continues to escalate, with new record numbers being seen at the border.
Musk, who is known for his companies Tesla, SpaceX, and X, has been actively following the situation at the border and has been vocal about it on X, formerly known as Twitter. In a tweet on Tuesday morning, Musk revealed that he had spoken to Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas about the crisis and described it as a “serious issue.”
He also expressed his intention to visit Eagle Pass later this week to see the situation for himself. This comes at a time when the border is facing an influx of migrants, especially single adult males from Venezuela. In the past few days, there have been over 4,000 encounters in Eagle Pass alone, causing border authorities to take action and close down bridges.
According to Customs and Border Protection sources, there have been approximately 11,000 migrant encounters at the southern border in the past week, surpassing the record highs seen in May when the Title 42 public health order ended. This makes it the single highest number of encounters in recent memory.
Musk has been actively raising concerns about the crisis and has criticized the lack of media coverage on the issue. In a previous tweet, he called out “media NPCs” for not covering the crisis and described the situation as a “severe crisis.” He also took aim at the Biden administration, stating that no preventive actions were being taken despite the rising number of migrants entering the country.
I spoke with Rep Tony Gonzales tonight – he confirmed that it is a serious issue.
They are being overwhelmed by unprecedented numbers – just hit an all-time high and still growing!
Am going to visit Eagle Pass later this week to see what’s going on for myself.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 26, 2023
The billionaire’s criticisms align with those made by Republicans who have placed the blame for the crisis on the current administration. They have cited the rolling back of Trump-era policies, reduced interior enforcement, and increased releases of migrants into the U.S. as reasons for the escalating situation. On the other hand, the Biden administration has defended its approach and claimed that its strategy of increasing consequences for illegal entry while expanding lawful migration pathways is working. However, they have also acknowledged the need for more funding and comprehensive immigration reform from Congress.
The ongoing migrant crisis at the southern border has become a pressing issue for both sides of the political spectrum. With record numbers being seen in recent months and the situation only intensifying, Musk’s decision to visit the border and witness the crisis firsthand highlights the urgency of the issue. As he prepares to travel to Eagle Pass, many will be eagerly waiting to hear his thoughts and insights on how to address this complex and challenging crisis.
