CBP Resumes Operations at International Railway Crossing Bridges

On Dec. 22, 2023, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations announced the resumption of operations at international railway crossing bridges in Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas, after four days. The decision comes after a period of suspension, reopening trade of goods and services between Mexico and the United States.

As part of its response strategy to manage the increasing influx of migrants, as previously reported by MBN, CBP temporarily suspended operations at international railway crossing bridges  in Eagle Pass and El Paso, connecting with Piedras Negras, Coahuila, on Dec. 18, while limiting vehicle processing in Lukeville, Arizona, connecting with Sonoyta, Sonora, on Nov. 27, and the Pedestrian West crossing in San Ysidro, California connecting Tijuana, Baja California, on Dec. 7.

In response to the dynamic landscape, CBP implemented various operational adjustments over the past weeks to optimize its responsiveness, processing capabilities, and enforcement measures. However, vehicular processing at Eagle Pass International Bridge 1 in Eagle Pass, Texas, remains suspended; San Ysidro's Pedestrian West operations in San Diego, California, continue to be suspended; operations at the Lukeville Port of Entry in Lukeville, Arizona, remain suspended; and the Morely Gate border crossing operations in Nogales, Arizona, continue to be suspended.

The Mexican Confederation of Industrial Chambers (CONCAMIN) highlighted potential violations of the USMCA agreement following these suspensions, specifically regarding the free transit of goods and merchandise. José Abugaber Andonie, President and Director General, CONCAMIN, expressed urgency in reopening railway border crossings, emphasizing the impact on Mexico's agro-industry, which heavily relies on the transportation of essential agricultural products. 

Abugaber highlighted that approximately 50% of Mexico’s 72Mt of grains and oilseeds are imported via railways. Through the Eagle Pass and El Paso border crossings, Mexico receives about 25% of yellow corn, 63% of soybean paste, and 40% of wheat for baking, originating from the United States and Canada, along with other essential agricultural inputs. Trains account for 13.9% of all cargo movement in Mexico, with 69.11% related to foreign trade.

He also explained that of the imports transported by train, 48.69Mt cross the border, while 18.98Mt are exported. Essential imported products include corn, containers, iron, steel, soy, wheat, and gasoline. Major exports comprise automobiles, beer, containers, and cement. The most significant railway traffic in foreign trade occurs in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, and Piedras Negras, Coahuila. In Piedras Negras, 8.3% of exports and 6.2% of total imports are moved by train. Ciudad Juarez sees 8.9% of imports and 3.1% of total exports transported by train.

CONCAMIN also stated that the economic impact of the suspension exceeded US$100 million daily, posing a significant risk to the economies of both countries and potentially leading to food shortages. 

Through a press release, certain members of the US Senate expressed their concerns to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, highlighting the severity of the current migration crisis, with 6.6 million encounters at the southern border since President Joe Biden took office. The success of international railway crossings in facilitating trade further emphasizes the economic implications of the situation, urging Mayorkas to engage with Congress to enact real policy changes. They also highlighted the importance of the international railways for trade, as Eagle Pass and El Paso alone accounted for US$33.95 billion or 35.8% of all cross-border rail traffic to and from Mexico in the last year, supporting a trade estimate of US$855.1 billion in 2022.