Eagle Pass City Leaders Meet with Texas DPS Representatives to Discuss Governor Abbott’s Controversial Decision to Inspect All Commercial Vehicles from Mexico at Border
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2022
Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s controversial executive decision on April 6, 2022 to conduct safety inspections on all commercial vehicles/trucks from Mexico entering the State of Texas by Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Officers in retaliation of President Biden’s decision to drop Title 42 immigration policy effective May 23, 2022 has caused a myriad of chaos and damages to the Texas and American economies, businesses, supply chain, transportation firms, customs brokers and freight forwarders on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, food and agricultural companies, automotive industry, beer industry, and all businesses dependent on the $442 billion annual Texas-Mexico trade and commerce.
The City of Eagle Pass, Texas is no exception as its Port of Eagle Pass with Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico sustained significant crossing delays, decreased truck traffic from Mexico, loss of bridge revenues, supply chain issues, and damaged its reputation as being one of the fastest Ports of Entry to cross products and commodities since the controversial Abbott decision was implemented.
The City of Eagle Pass leaders, including Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr., City Manager George Antuna, Assistant City Manager Ivan Morua, International Bridge System General Manager Homero Balderas, Police Chief Federico Garza, Jr., Eagle Pass-Maverick County Economic Development Alliance Board President Morris Libson, Jr., and local business leaders such as Hector J. Cerna, President of IBC Bank-Eagle Pass, and Ricardo Gonzalez, President of the Eagle Pass-Piedras Negras Customs Brokers Association, held a meeting on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 with DPS Captain Joel Betancourt and Lieutenant Isaac Gonzalez and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Interim Port Director Gilberto Calderon to discuss the impact of Abbott’s decision to inspect all commercial vehicles/trucks from Mexico entering Texas at the Port of Eagle Pass and international trade and commerce.
As a result of the April 13th meeting, Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr. wrote a direct letter to Governor Abbott advising him that “the increased safety inspections are causing major commercial truck backups, adding transport delays to an already unsteady supply chain….We feel there are more effective ways of combatting the issue [of immigration] without causing major disruptions in our local, state, and national supply chains. The contribution of the Port of Eagle Pass to the economic growth of the State of Texas and the United States are being negatively affected.”
Mayor Salinas further advised Governor Abbott that “The City of Eagle Pass would like to request an opportunity to meet with you and/or your close advisors along with our Eagle Pass/Piedras Negras Customs Brokers Association, Eagle Pass-Maverick County Economic Alliance, Eagle Pass Chamber of Commerce, and other important stakeholders to discuss how we can all help with the immigration issues without impeding trade/commerce. We will make ourselves available at your earliest convenience to discuss this difficult predicament we find ourselves in.”
Mayor Salinas noted in his letter that the Port of Eagle Pass is “currently ranked number eight amongst all border crossings between Canada and Mexico with total trade value of over $33 billion annually. We are the number one importer in the United States for Commercial Vehicles and Beer.”
Salinas added in his letter that the “City of Eagle Pass is on the verge of an economic boom we have never witnessed before thanks to the Port of Eagle Pass and its increasing role in commercial trade. We will continue to work hard with our Mexican counterparts to bring necessary infrastructure improvements to our port to sustain the projected growth of our commercial traffic. The Port of Eagle Pass is fortunate to be considered one of the safest ports along the U.S.-Mexico border.”
Many Texas-Mexico border cities and counties have criticized Governor Abbott’s controversial decision, including Republican Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, as being contrary to Texas’ motto as being “Business Friendly.”
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller wrote to Governor Abbott requesting him to cease his decision to increase safety inspections at the border because it an “economy killing action” and is causing millions of dollars in produce losses and creating a shortage at the supermarkets that will increase food prices to consumers. Miller called Abbott’s decision as nothing more than “political theater” and that the
“inspection protocol is not stopping illegal immigration.” Miller added that Abbott’s decision “is stopping food from getting to grocery store shelves and in many cases causing food to rot in trucks—many of which are owned by Texas and other American companies….The people of Texas deserve better!”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a statement calling Governor Abbott’s enhanced safety inspections at the border as “unnecessary” as CBP Officers already conduct a thorough inspection of all commercial vehicles from Mexico entering the United States.
Governor Abbott is running for re-election in November 2022 for a third four year term against Democrat Beto O’Rourke of El Paso, Texas with current polls showing the race as tied. Abbott is using immigration as a political rallying cry and stunt.
Texas under Governor Abbott’s leadership has spent $4 Billion on border security while more critical issues affecting Texans such as exorbitant real property taxes are out of control with 25% to 50% annual increases, including up to 488% in one property in Maverick County, the electrical grid remains unfixed as electricity costs skyrocket, high uninsured rates among Texans—the largest in the United States, low wages with the minimum wage at $7.25 per hour, voter suppression laws against people of color and the elderly, poor public education funding, denial of a woman’s right to control her body, and the lack of incorporating the growing diverse populations happening in the rapidly changing demographics.
