Railway Operations at Texas Border Crossings to Halt Temporarily Due to Migrant Crisis

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that it will temporarily suspend all railway operations at the international bridges in El Paso and Eagle Pass, Texas, starting from Dec. 19, 2023, at 8 a.m. The suspension is a response to the surge in border crossings by migrants, especially families, and unaccompanied children, who have arrived between the ports of entry.

CBP’s Contingency Measures

According to the CBP’s news release, the suspension of railway operations will allow the CBP’s Office of Field Operations officers to assist the U.S. Border Patrol in processing and vetting the migrants in a safe and swift manner. The CBP said that it regularly plans for and executes contingency measures, such as this, to support its border security mission and ensure the safety and wellbeing of those in its custody.

The CBP also said that it informed the stakeholders of the temporary suspension earlier and that it will remain in communication with them and provide updates as they become available. The CBP said that it will work to resume normal operations as quickly as possible.

The CBP advised the members of the trade community to consider the nearby Ysleta, Santa Teresa, or Marcelino Serna (Tornillo) cargo facilities as alternative entry points during the suspension of service. The CBP also advised the members of the traveling public to monitor the border wait times at its website, which is updated hourly.

The Migrant Surge and Its Impacts

The suspension of railway operations at the Texas border crossings is the latest impact of the migrant surge that has overwhelmed the U.S. immigration system. According to the CBP’s statistics, the agency encountered more than 1.7 million migrants at the southwest border in fiscal year 2021, which ended on Sept. 30, 2023. This is the highest number in more than two decades.

The migrant surge has been driven by various factors, such as poverty, violence, corruption, natural disasters, and climate change in the countries of origin, as well as the perception of more lenient policies under the Biden administration. The majority of the migrants are from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.

The migrant surge has posed significant challenges and risks for the CBP and other federal agencies, as well as for the migrants themselves. The CBP has faced shortages of staff, resources, and facilities to handle the influx of migrants, especially the vulnerable populations like families and unaccompanied children. The CBP has also faced criticism and scrutiny for its treatment and conditions of the migrants in its custody.

The migrants have faced dangers and hardships during their journey to the U.S. border, such as exploitation, abuse, robbery, kidnapping, rape, and death. Many of them have also been exposed to COVID-19 and other diseases. Some of them have been turned back or expelled to Mexico or their home countries under the Title 42 public health order, which was issued by the Trump administration and continued by the Biden administration to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The migrant surge has also affected the local communities and businesses along the border, as well as the relations between the U.S. and Mexico. The suspension of railway operations at the Texas border crossings will likely have economic and logistical impacts on both sides of the border, as the railways are an important mode of transportation for trade and commerce. The suspension will also likely increase the pressure on the U.S. and Mexico to cooperate and find solutions to address the migrant crisis.