Border Trade Alliance Sends Letters to Texas' Gov. Abbott, DHS Secretary on Border Closures
The Border Trade Alliance requested a meeting with Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas to discuss the "quickly deteriorating situation at the Texas-Mexico border," according to a BTA letter dated Dec. 29. The business group called the Texas Department of Public Safety’s inspections of commercial vehicles entering the state from Mexico "duplicative and costly" due to CBP being assigned to the same task.
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The alliance said that they share "the frustrations" of border state governors over the "federal government’s mismanagement of the border" but believe Texas DPS inspections are "causing more harm than good." The BTA said that the inspections, coupled with DHS closing International Bridge I in Eagle Pass and reducing the lane capacity at International Bridge II, are creating hours-long wait times and making it harder for public safety services to reach those waiting.
"You will get no argument from the BTA that the federal government’s performance at the border in the last several months has been defensible; far from it," the alliance said. "However, federal-state cooperation and collaboration at the border is needed more today than ever."
The BTA has a "desire" to work with the Abbott Administration to make sure DPS "carries out its important role at the border with Mexico in a manner that does not unnecessarily slow the movement of freight," the BTA said.
BTA also sent a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to "register" its opposition to management of the international bridges and land border ports along the border. The letter, which was also sent on Dec. 29, called for DHS to reopen International Bridge I in Eagle Pass, the international port of entry at Lukeville, and the "PedWest" pedestrian crossing at San Ysidro.
BTA also said that the closures show that communication between DHS and "local stakeholders" needs to improve.
"Decisions over closures, lane reductions, and the apparent prioritization of asylum seekers over regular commerce and the travel of U.S. citizens has been incredibly opaque, leading to rumor and speculation among border residents and leaving city officials with little guidance," the alliance said. "U.S. border communities and the individuals whose livelihoods depend on a secure and efficient U.S.-Mexico border can no longer bear such a disproportionate burden for an international problem."
The BTA had spoken out against the DHS closures previously, demanding that the Biden administration reopen the ports (see 2312180023).
DHS and the Texas governor's office didn't respond to our requests for comment.