Two Trade Routes in Texas Shut Down Due to Surge in Record Border Activity

Railroad companies and business groups are urging the U.S. government to reopen trade routes on the Texas-Mexico border, following the closure of two crossings due to an increase in migrant crossings.

An internal agency report reviewed by Reuters revealed that U.S. Border Patrol apprehended about 10,800 migrants at the southwest border on Monday, with approximately 40% of them being families or unaccompanied children.

Several current and former U.S. officials noted that this number was near or at a single-day record high for migrant encounters.

“The encounter levels we are currently seeing across the southwest border are presenting a serious challenge to the men and women of CBP,” said acting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Troy Miller in a statement, adding that the agency was using “all available resources” to ensure the safety of agents and migrants.

Business groups and railroad operators are calling for the reopening of rail bridges in Eagle Pass and El Paso, which were closed by U.S. border authorities on Dec. 18.

Neil Bradley, chief policy officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, stated that “Shutting down rail traffic through Eagle Pass and El Paso will inflict significant economic harm” and urged for the legal movement of commerce to not be halted.

The president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads, Ian Jefferies, emphasized the urgency of reopening these crossings and restoring rail service between the two nations, citing the economic impact and supply chain disruptions.

The increase in migrant crossings comes as President Joe Biden has sought a deal with Republican lawmakers for increased U.S. border security, but a bipartisan group of senators have so far failed to reach a compromise.

The Texas cities of Eagle Pass and El Paso have experienced an influx of newcomers in recent days, as migrants make their way to the border using various means of transportation.

Two of the nation’s largest freight railroad companies, Union Pacific and BNSF Railway, have warned of supply chain disruptions ahead of the Christmas holiday due to the closures of railway bridges.

Mexico’s top farm lobby CNA also expressed concerns over “huge losses” expected for agricultural trade due to the closure of the railroad crossings.

In addition to the railroad crossing closures, U.S. border authorities have also closed a busy pedestrian crossing near San Diego, California, and another crossing in remote Lukeville, Arizona, to free up workers to process arriving migrants.