AP – The federal government reopened two cross-border railroad crossings in Texas, five days after the shuttering of rail operations there disrupted trade and sparked outrage from United States (US) and Mexican businesses.
Customs and Border Protection closed railroad operations in Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas, to reallocate their customs officers to help Border Patrol take migrants into custody.
Both regions have seen the number of illegal border crossings soar this month.
Operations resumed at both cities as of Friday afternoon. US Customs and Border Protection’s acting commissioner Troy Miller said the closures at Eagle Pass and El Paso were a response to more migrants traveling on freight trains recently. Miller said authorities are seeing “unprecedented” arrivals at the border, topping 10,000 crossings on some days this month.
The closures affected two of the six available rail border crossings between the US and Mexico.
Union Pacific and BNSF, the affected carriers, said automotive, agricultural, chemicals, and other consumer goods were halted. Union Pacific estimated that the closures cost USD200 million in daily losses across affected industries.
News of the reopening was received with relief, but both BNSF and Union Pacific said they would be working diligently to make up for lost time.
