Tears, Chaos, and Last-Ditch Entry Attempts at the Southern Border
What's going on: The Trump administration’s move to end a Biden-era program for migrants has created chaos at the southern border. Moments after President Donald Trump was sworn in, the CBP One app — which had allowed nearly 1,500 migrants a day to schedule asylum appointments — shut down. People with scheduled appointments for Monday received abrupt cancellation emails written in English. In response, some sat at the border fence in tears, while others made perilous, last-ditch attempts to cross into the US in other ways, The New York Times reported. For many, returning to their home countries wasn’t an option, as they were escaping violence. As one migrant told The Times: “We do this out of need, not because we want to.”
What it means: Since its launch in January 2023, CBP One has facilitated appointments for over 900,000 people. Combined with Mexico’s tightened immigration policies, analysts say the app contributed to a decline in unauthorized crossings last year. However, critics — particularly some Republicans — argued the program served as a backdoor for individuals without a legal pathway to the US. Nixing CBP One isn’t Trump’s only move to crack down on immigration. He also declared a national emergency at the border — a tactic he used during his first term. However, this time, he’s taking it a step further by involving the military in immigration enforcement. Yesterday, the Trump administration also announced immigration authorities will be able to make arrests at schools, churches, and healthcare facilities.
What's going on: If social media was supposed to be our digital escape hatch, it seems to be failing — because the vibes online are off. In recent days, users on Instagram and Facebook have accused Meta of hiding certain hashtags like #Democrat and #Jan6th. Meta said the issue was impacting a number of different hashtags — not just those related to the left — and was working to fix it. Many users were also concerned after finding that their accounts mysteriously followed President Donald Trump and VP JD Vance, though Meta says it’s part of the automatic presidential transition and happens each cycle. Over on TikTok, some users are returning post-ban only to find their algorithms completely changed. As one user put it, “it just feels like someone was in my room moving things around, but I don’t know what's wrong yet.”
What it means: Whether these anecdotal reports are due to tech glitches or user error, many people are feeling on edge. Major changes and announcements on platforms — like TikTok thanking Trump before he was sworn in — have created confusion and distrust. Trump has long claimed Facebook censors conservatives, despite data showing right-wing voices often dominate the platform. And now some users fear that his cozying up with the tech bros means things could be swinging the other way. Critics like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) have seized the moment to decry Big Tech. One social media expert called the hashtag issue “embarrassing” for Meta, saying “in a hyper-partisan environment, even unintentional errors like this can escalate into accusations of partisanship.”
Gen Z Isn't Feeling So Great About Their Careers. Welcome to the Club
What's going on: Gen Z appears to be in the throes of a collective quarter-life crisis, grappling with career uncertainty and life’s general direction. Extremely relatable. A new report from MetLife found that 46% of Gen Z respondents said they felt stressed and another 44% felt burned out. On top of that, about 30% said they also struggled with feelings of isolation. Unsurprisingly, all this is taking a toll on their workplace confidence. MetLife notes that a few voluntary benefits could help Gen Z feel better about their workplace, like retirement planning support, pet insurance, and childcare benefits (not a shocker).
What it means: Gen Z is facing an unprecedented set of obstacles, including record inflation and rising housing costs. Nearly half still rely on financial support from either their family or the government. While other generations, like millennials or Gen X, may share similar concerns about their career paths, Gen Z remains the youngest generation in the workforce. They’re expected to make up about 30% of the labor force this year, stepping in to fill a significant gap left by baby boomers.
