Abbott Renews Commercial Vehicle Safety Inspections at Texas-Mexico Border in Retaliation of Migrant Surge
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2023
Texas Governor Greg Abbott renewed his previous order from 2022 requiring the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to conduct safety inspections upon all commercial vehicles entering Texas from Mexico in retaliation for recent undocumented migrant mass surges at the Texas-Mexico border, including the Port of Eagle Pass.
Abbott’s decision to renew commercial safety inspections on all commercial vehicles crossing into Texas from Mexico is causing chaos and long delays at the affected Texas Ports of Entry, causing financial losses to United States, Mexico, and Canada businesses and states.
Prior to the renewal of commercial safety inspections, commercial vehicles were taking between one hour to two hours to cross at the Port of Eagle Pass from Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico. After Abbott’s renewed inspections, commercial vehicles are now taking between 6 to 12 hours to cross the Port of Eagle Pass as a result of the DPS commercial safety inspections. The net result of the safety inspections are the loss of revenues for the City of Eagle Pass International Bridge System, transportation businesses, manufacturers and industries, employees working for firms involved in international trade and transportation, and to the economies of the City of Eagle Pass, state of Texas, the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
For instance, in 2022 the United States lost $9 Billion in damages from Abbott’s commercial safety inspections, including $4.3 Billion in Texas. A similar result is expected with the newly ordered safety inspections by Abbott. Abbott’s decision will affect the state of Texas the most, shooting itself on the foot concerning its economy. Mexico is the United States and Texas’ largest international trade partner.
The City of Eagle Pass International Bridge System and City taxpayers will lose significant international bridge toll revenues as a result of Abbott’s retaliatory strike against Mexico for not preventing the mass migrant influx at the Texas-Mexico border. The City of Eagle Pass heavily depends on its international bridge revenues to fund and balance its annual fiscal year budget. Eagle Pass’ annual fiscal year budget is funded up to 50 percent from international bridge system toll revenues.
In 2022, DPS did not find any illegal drugs nor migrants stowed in commercial vehicles from over 4,100 commercial safety inspections ordered by Abbott. Migrants generally do not enter the United States from Mexico aboard commercial vehicles or trucks. They simply walk, swim, wade, or float across the Rio Grande into Texas.
Many American and worldwide manufacturers who operate manufacturing plants in Mexico will be adversely affected by the delays caused by the commercial safety inspections ordered by Abbott. Most manufacturers use a just in time process in manufacturing or assembling their products for export into the United States and Canada.
Many manufacturers have stopped shipping their goods and products through the Port of Eagle Pass since Abbott renewed his retaliatory inspections. Many companies and transportation firms are now crossing through Ciudad Acuna, Coahuila or Laredo or other Rio Grande Valley Ports of Entries.
