Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced last week a series of measures to fortify his state’s border with Mexico and target undocumented immigrants crossing into the United States. Greg Abbott announced that he would take a number of steps to secure Texas’ border from Mexico and deport undocumented immigrants who cross into the United States. More performative stunts Abbott is implementing, the Republican governor is directing the Texas Department of Public Safety “to conduct enhanced safety inspections of vehicles as they cross international ports of entry into Texas,” citing drug smuggling and migrant trafficking.
While it may seem like an easy component of Abbott’s order, the truckers and local business owners as well as international commerce experts raise concerns. The increased inspections will bolster already existing efforts. PerformingCustoms and Border Patrol have closed down traffic as a way to prevent illegal migration of migrants and drugs. “We were not taken into account.” Ernesto Gaytan is the chairperson of Texas Trucking Association (TXTA). Reuters Migrants rarely try to cross the U.S. border on commercial trucks.
TXTA arguedThese stricter screening standards are obsolete. Increased vetting of trucks and cars at borders is not a security improvement. It is what it does Is You will experience severe congestion, long delays at entry ports and a lot of inconvenience.
The statement reads: “Unfortunately this new initiative duplicates existing screening and causes significant congestion. Delaying the products Americans depend on from Mexico, our largest trading partner,” StatementFrom the TXTA. Mexico’s National Chamber of Freight Transport reportedIt was discovered that delays were causing member companies to lose millions each day. Dante Galeazzi, CEO of Texas International Produce Association, urged Abbott to change his policy. WriteThe “U.S. trucking firms are losing money” as they sit idle for days without any loads to transport. Galeazzi stated that they heard from a trucking company refusing to ship trucks south of San Antonio, out of concerns about the availability of cargo. Perishable goods Do not take the riskThe Texas heat can cause severe food spoilage.
Abbott’s recent inspection measures were not only a matter of concern locally, but also caused delays that have irked officials at the federal border, warning about wider supply chain issues. CBP DescribedCBP stated that recent wait times exceeded five hours, with commercial traffic falling by as high as 60%. It also noted that the U.S. government already inspects and clears vehicles for entry.
Trucker’s have taken to social media to vent their anger at the over-inspection. This is the Tucson Sentinel reportedDrivers have traveled as far as 20 miles to get across the border from Arizona to avoid long lines in Texas. The wait times at Nogales Mariposa Port of Entry were reduced as a result. DoublingThis was effective as of Thursday. Mexican truck drivers BlocProtest at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge, which prohibits all U.S. motorists from traveling southbound.
Abbott as of Thursday SignedIn exchange for Mexican officials promising more in combating illegal immigration, agreements were made with governors from Nuevo Leon and Chihuahua. The border Texas shares the Tamaulipas with Texas will see more stringent inspections.
Although congestion appears to have eased as a result Abbott’s agreements the governor still was willing to risk gridlock, disruptions to trade in order to put into place a meddlesome border security measure. These disruptions have left a sour taste in the mouths of trade officials and truckers—even those, like the TXTA, who have supported Abbott up until this point.