Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras Host Bi-National Immigration and Security Conference on Haitian Migration
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2021
In light of over 15,000 Haitian migrants who crossed into the United States through Ciudad Acuna, Coahuila, Mexico and Del Rio, Texas seeking asylum and congregated underneath the City of Del Rio International Bridge for detention and processing by the U.S. Border Patrol during the past two weeks, Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico authorities hosted a closed door one-day Bi-National Security Conference on Tuesday, September 21, 2021, at the City of Eagle Pass International Center for Trade to discuss the Haitian migration crisis, public safety, public security, public health, impact on international commerce, mitigation measures, and other issues arising from this humanitarian crisis, announced Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas.
The private, closed-door Bi-National Security Conference was attended by the State of Coahuila, Mexico Governor Miguel Angel Riquelme and members of his Cabinet, Eagle Pass Port of Entry Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Director Paul Del Rincon, Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr., Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo, Piedras Negras Mayor Claudio Bres Garza, Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber, Eagle Pass Acting Police Chief Alejandro Guedea, State Senator Roland Gutierrez, State Representative Eddie Morales, U.S. Border Patrol representatives, Texas Department of Public Safety representatives, Mexico Secretariat of Foreign Relations representatives, Mexican Consul Ismael Naveja Macias, Eagle Pass-Maverick County Economic Development Association President Morris Libson, and other representatives from Piedras Negras and Eagle Pass.
Coahuila Governor Miguel Angel Riquelme stated the private, closed-door Bi-National Immigration and Security Conference addressed the important issues of migration, security, public health, and the impact on international commerce. Governor Riquelme noted that the Del Rio International Bridge had been closed due to the Haitian migration crisis and the closure of the bridge had significantly affected the flow of international commerce between Mexico and the United States, causing commercial traffic to be rerouted through Piedras Negras and Eagle Pass. Governor Riquelme added it was important to secure the safety and health of all citizens affected by the migration crisis while respecting the human rights of the migrants.
Eagle Pass Port of Entry CBP Director Paul Del Rincon stated the conference was helpful in keeping the lines of communication and cooperation between U.S. and Mexico authorities in the event that a similar migration crisis such as in Del Rio were to develop and occur at the Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras Port of Entry. Del Rincon noted that the Eagle Pass Port of Entry was now receiving an extra 300 or so commercial trailers rerouted daily from Del Rio in addition to the usual 700 or so trailers that regularly cross through the Eagle Pass Port of Entry daily. Over $19 Billion in international commerce annually crosses through the Eagle Pass Port of Entry. Eagle Pass CBP Officers are dispatched daily to assist the Del Rio migration crisis.
Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr. stated the conference assisted authorities in Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras develop a contingency plan in the event that a large migration crisis were to affect Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras similar to Del Rio. Collaboration and communication between bi-national authorities are important in preventing and responding to a migration crisis. Mayor Salinas noted the safety and health of Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras citizens is of utmost importance in the event of a similar migration crisis.
Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo stated all the conference attendees agreed to work together in the event a migration crisis were to occur in Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras.
Mitigation efforts on how to avoid a migration crisis in Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras border were also discussed among the conference attendees.
