Migrant Surge at U. S.-Mexico Border Causes CBP’s Temporary Closure of Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas Railroad Bridges
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2023
In a rare federal government action, the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a press release on Sunday, December 17, 2023 stating that due to the surge of undocumented immigrants the two railroad bridges at Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas are being temporarily closed effective Monday, December 18, 2023, at 8 a.m.
The CBP press releases states: “Beginning December 18th at 8:00 A.M. local time, CBP’s Office of Field Operations will temporarily suspend operations at the international railway crossing bridges in Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas in order to redirect personnel to assist the U. S. Border Patrol with taking migrants into custody. CBP will continue to prioritize our border security mission as necessary in response to this evolving situation. We continue to adjust our operational plans to maximize enforcement efforts against those who do not use lawful pathways or processes such as CBP One and those without a legal basis to remain in the United States.”
The CBP announcement stunned the business and public communities in both Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas, as well as in Mexico. The temporary suspension of railway operations at two of the most important railroad bridges on the U. S.-Mexico border will have an adverse economic impact on U. S.-Mexico import and export trade as well as the economies of the two border cities, particularly during the Christmas holiday season.
The U. S.-Mexico border is experiencing record number of undocumented immigrants crossing into the United States during 2023, straining federal personnel manning the U. S. Department of Homeland Security agencies, including Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U. S. Border Patrol. Due to the record number of migrants entering the United States at the southern border, federal agencies have insufficient personnel on the ground to handle and process the huge migrant surge at the U.S.-Mexico border. Federal personnel are being reassigned temporarily to assist CBP and U. S. Border Patrol process the tens of thousands of migrants crossing daily into the United States.
Congress has recessed for the Christmas holiday and will not return until the new year 2024 to address the migrant crisis. The U. S. House of Representatives recessed for the Christmas break while the U. S. Senate stayed in Washington, D. C. to continue negotiations between Democrats and Republicans in reaching an agreement on border security funding and immigration law reforms.
Meanwhile, the migrant crisis at the U. S.-Mexico border continues unabated.
