Surge of migrants at US-Mexico border before restrictions are lifted

People wait to apply for asylum between two border walls in San Diego on Thursday (Gregory Bull/AP)

An influx of migrants crossed the US-Mexico border in the final hours before pandemic-related restrictions ended, amid fears the changes would make it more difficult for them to remain north of the border.

House Republicans passed a bill on Thursday to build more sections of wall on the border and impose fresh restrictions on asylum seekers ahead of the rules, known as Title 42, expiring at midnight.