City of Eagle Pass International Bridge System Cancels 24 Hour Service at Bridge No. 1 for the Christmas Holiday Season Due to Migrant Surge
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2023
The City of Eagle Pass, Texas International Bridge System announced on Sunday, December 17, 2023, that it was immediately canceling its plan to operate and provide service to Christmas holiday travelers at its Bridge No. 1 scheduled to have taken effect on Monday, December 18, 2023, due to the surge of undocumented immigrants crossing the Rio Grande River from Mexico into the United States.
The Eagle Pass Bridge System press release states: “We regret to inform hat the proposed 24-hour operation at Bridge 1 has been canceled. Unfortunately, CBP is unable to support the operation due to the migrant crisis at our border. It was our full intention to continue with the operation remaining hopeful that the migrant situation would be under control by the proposed date, unfortunately that was not the case.”
The press release adds “the toll rate will return to its normal rate ($2.00 per axle) effective tomorrow, Monday, December 18, 2023. We apologize that the operation had to suddenly be cancelled and ask that you understand it was for reasons out of our control.”
The U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had previously partially closed vehicular traffic from Mexico into the United States at the Eagle Pass International Bridge No. 1 on November , 2023 due to the surge of migrants crossing the Rio Grande at Eagle Pass, Texas, but kept open vehicular traffic from the United States to Mexico as well as pedestrian traffic going both ways.
There is a possibility that CBP might order the temporary closure of Eagle Pass International Bridge No. 1 in the immediate future due to continuing migrant crisis and the lack of federal personnel to process the migrants, but this has not yet occurred as of December 18, 2023.
The City of Eagle Pass relies upon its international bridge system revenues for up to 50% of its annual fiscal budget operating costs. The City of Eagle Pass will be financially strained with the temporary closure of its international bridge no. 1 should it happen anytime soon. City leaders are hoping CBP does not temporarily suspend vehicular traffic traveling from the United States to Mexico at Bridge No. 1 because it would cause a financial crisis for the city budget and services.
As the migrant crisis remains unabated, the City of Eagle Pass’s financial picture for its 2023-2024 fiscal budget year is in danger of sustaining multi-million dollar losses, worrying taxpayers of a potential tax rate hike to offset the international bridge system’s loss of revenues.
