Unprecedented Migrant Surge at Eagle Pass Strains Local Economy and Resources
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2023
The Eagle Pass, Texas and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico border has developed into the epic center of the 2023 undocumented immigrant crisis facing the southern United States as a result of numerous complex factors and phenomena beyond its control, sowing chaos and challenges never before seen while straining the local economy and resources of the two border communities.
On Wednesday, December 20, 2023, the U. S. Border Patrol Del Rio Sector reported a record number of encounters with undocumented immigrants in one day totaling 4,095, most of them at Eagle Pass.
Since December 1 to 20, 2023, the United States Border Patrol has encountered over 200,000 undocumented immigrants along the U. S.-Mexico border, which over 12,000 of them have been at Eagle Pass during the week of December 17-20, 2023.
These unprecedented number of encounters with undocumented migrants during the month of December 2023 has strained the local economy and resources of the City of Eagle Pass.
The City of Eagle Pass relies on its two international bridges’ revenues to fund up to 50 percent of its annual fiscal year budget. With U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) temporarily suspending southbound traffic from Mexico to the United States at the Eagle Pass International Bridge No. 1 since November 28, 2023, the City of Eagle Pass is losing up to $80,000 daily in lost revenues, sales taxes, and tourism, according to City officials.
In addition, CBP has temporarily suspended service at the Union Pacific Railroad International Bridge at Eagle Pass, the second most important international railroad bridge for U. S.-Mexico-Canada international trade, on December 18, 2023, a first in the history of the railroad bridge.
The temporary suspension of rail service at the Eagle Pass Union Pacific International Railroad Bridge is already having severe adverse economic impact on the gross domestic product (GDP) of the United States, Mexico, and Canada. International trade relies on the railroad bridge to remain open to import and export its products on a “just in time” manufacturing schedule. The longer the railroad bridge remains closed, the larger the damages to international businesses and trade.
CBP has also restricted vehicular travel from Mexico into the United States at the Eagle Pass International Bridge No. 2 to only one lane, causing delays of up to 12 to 14 hours to cross into the United States from Piedras Negras, Coahuila.
This Friday to Sunday, December 22-24, 2023, the City of Eagle Pass is anticipating 20,000 to 30,000 vehicles will cross into Mexico for the holiday through its two international bridges, increasing the crossing time from 6 to 10 hours long. The Eagle Pass Police Department, Maverick County Sheriff’s Department, and Texas Department of Public Safety will have their hands full directing and managing the heavy traffic volume.
Furthermore, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has reinitiated commercial vehicle safety inspections on all commercial trucks crossing from Mexico into the United States at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry Import Facility, increasing the crossing times of commercial trucks from one to two hours to now over 12 to 18 hours.
State of Coahuila Secretary of Economy Claudio Bres Garza stated the DPS commercial vehicle safety inspections are having a severe adverse impact on international trade, increasing the crossing times, costs of doing business, and slowing trade.
All of these restrictions are taking a heavy toll on the local economy and resources of the City of Eagle Pass during its peak season of the year, the Christmas holidays. The temporary suspension of vehicle traffic from Mexico into the United States at Eagle Pass Bridge No. 1, the reduction of vehicle traffic to one lane at Bridge No. 2, and the temporary suspension of the railroad bridge traffic has dampened the Christmas holiday season for Eagle Pass businesses and the City.
Eagle Pass Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Margie Montoya stated local retail businesses are reporting a decrease of up to 40% in retail sales during this Christmas shopping season due to the travel restrictions at the two Eagle Pass bridges. Many Mexican retail consumers and tourists are shying away from visiting and shopping in Eagle Pass due to the long crossing times at the bridges, preferring instead to remaining in Mexico for this holiday season.
In addition to losing significant revenues, the City of Eagle Pass is also incurring significant operating costs as a result of its fire and police departments needing to assist federal and state agencies manage the historic migrant surge. Both the Fire and Police Departments are having to provide services to the migrants, including ambulance service, water drowning rescue services, and patrolling and security services. City fire and police officers are having to work overtime, placing a high stress level on them. The City reported a loss of up to $500,000 to date.
Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr. stated the city has 40 police officers, which 10 to 15 daily are assisting federal and state agencies with the migrant crisis and a reduced force is left to provide security for the city residents.
Both U. S. and Mexican governments, agencies, and representatives are vigorously meeting and working to develop policies to stem the flow of migrants at the southern border of the United States. Eagle Pass officials are participating in meetings with their Mexican counterparts as well as U. S. federal and state agencies.
President Joe Biden has conferred with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on collaborating together on implementing policies to stem the flow of migrants. State of Coahuila newly-sworn Governor Manolo Jimenez Salinas has called upon state and federal agencies to develop and implement new strategies to restrict the flow of migrants to Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras. Coahuila.
Congress recessed for the Christmas holiday and failed to take action on proposed border security funding and immigration law reforms requested by President Biden, deferring until the new year 2024 to tackle the migrant crisis.
President Biden has noted that he is willing to compromise on certain immigration law reforms, but Republicans in Congress fear that if they reach an agreement with President Biden on immigration reform their number one political issue in the 2024 election will be resolved and won’t have anything to stand on come November 5, 2024.
In the meantime, the City of Eagle Pass’ local economy and resources remain strained until all parties reach a compromise on resolving the migrant crisis at the southern border of the United States.
