Tesla CEO Elon Musk visited the Texas-Mexico border on Thursday, September 28, 2023. He met with local politicians and law enforcement officials, and toured a section of the border near Eagle Pass, Texas.
Musk said he wanted to get an “unfiltered” view of the situation at the border, which has been a source of controversy and debate in recent months. He has previously expressed support for immigration reform, and has called for a more humane and efficient system for processing asylum seekers.
In a video that he posted to social media, Musk said that he was “impressed” with the work that local officials and law enforcement are doing to manage the border situation, but that he also saw “room for improvement.” He called for the Biden administration to expedite the legal approval process for asylum seekers, and to provide more resources to local communities that are dealing with the influx of migrants.
Musk’s visit to the border comes at a time when there has been a surge in the number of migrants crossing into the United States. In August 2023, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency reported that it had apprehended over 200,000 migrants at the southern border, the highest number in over two decades.
It remains to be seen what impact Musk’s visit will have on the immigration debate, but it has certainly raised the profile of the issue. It will be interesting to see what Musk does next to advocate for immigration reform, and whether he is able to get other high-profile individuals and organizations to join him in his efforts.