CBP Halts Commercial Truck Cargo Processing at Texas Port of Entry
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has temporarily suspended commercial truck cargo processing at a texas port of entry in El Paso, Texas. This decision comes as border agents in West Texas shift their focus to immigration duties due to a significant increase in migrant attempts to cross into the United States.
According to CBP officials, personnel from El Paso’s Bridge of the Americas cargo operations have been transferred to address the influx of migrants. This temporary suspension aims to allow CBP officers to assist the U.S. Border Patrol in processing noncitizens who have arrived between the ports of entry, including vulnerable populations such as families and unaccompanied children. It is part of CBP’s contingency measures to support the agency’s mission and ensure the safety and wellbeing of those under its custody.
El Paso has encountered the highest number of migrants at the Mexican border over the past 10 months, with a total of 364,092.
The Bridge of the Americas serves as one of the commercial border crossings between the United States and Mexico in El Paso, alongside the nearby Ysleta-Zaragoza International Bridge. In 2022, more than 650,000 cargo trucks crossed the border using the Ysleta-Zaragoza bridge, while the Bridge of the Americas saw 161,439 trucks.
The closure of the Bridge of the Americas affects cross-border trade and may have economic implications. Maru Campos, the governor of the Mexican state of Chihuahua, emphasized the impact on daily trailer passage, estimating losses of approximately $33 million. Campos urged the Mexican government to address these cross-border issues and find a resolution.
To minimize disruptions, CBP advises cross-border truck drivers to utilize alternative ports of entry such as the Ysleta-Zaragoza bridge, the Marcelino Serna port of entry, or the Santa Teresa port of entry in New Mexico. These alternate ports are located approximately 15 to 40 miles away from El Paso.
CBP officials assure stakeholders that they will communicate updates regarding the contingency plans and strive to return to normal operations as quickly as possible. As of now, cargo truck wait times at the Ysleta-Zaragoza bridge are around 100 minutes in the general commercial lanes and 75 minutes for vehicles permitted for the Free and Secure Trade program lanes. The Santa Teresa port of entry currently experiences wait times of 40 to 45 minutes for cargo trucks, while the Marcelino Serna port of entry has wait times of five to seven minutes.
The temporary suspension of commercial truck cargo processing at the Texas port of entry has implications for trade and highlights the challenges faced by border agencies in managing a complex border region. As developments unfold, stakeholders will closely monitor the situation and await the resumption of normal operations at the affected port.
Source: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/cbp-halts-commercial-truck-cargo-processing-at-texas-port-of-entry
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