|
CBP
suspended rail crossings at El Paso and Eagle Pass, Texas, on
Monday because of the continued influx of migrants. The agency
said in a statement they observed a resurgence of smuggling
organizations moving migrants through Mexico and they’re
shifting resources to address the issue and take migrants into
custody.
“CBP is continuing to surge all available resources to safely
process migrants in response to increased levels of migrant
encounters at the Southwest Border, fueled by smugglers peddling
disinformation to prey on vulnerable individuals,” a CBP
statement said Sunday.
On
Wednesday, Illinois Manufacturers' Association President Mark
Denzler joined two other Illinois business groups and
organizations from 16 other states asking the rail line to be
reopened. He said the stoppage will send shockwaves across the
economy, especially heading into the holidays.
“The intermodal port for example, where they’re unloading here
and they’re trying to put them on trucks and move them around.
Well, if loads aren’t coming in then you have truck drivers that
are sitting that don’t have anything to do, so this has a ripple
effect on the economy,” Denzler told The Center Square.
That area of rail traffic transports a lot of goods for American
consumers and businesses, Denzler said. The two crossings carry
around 45% of BNSF and Union Pacific rail traffic between the
two countries.
“There’s beer for example that’s coming across the border just
sitting there,” Denzler said. “Food products or grains
potentially could spoil if it sits there too late. Americans who
are looking for consumer products, who are looking to buy that
electronic or that automobile may not be able to find it at
their store because it’s sitting right now.”
Other Illinois groups that signed onto the letter are the
Illinois Retail Merchants Association and the Chemical Industry
Council of Illinois.
Denzler said they understand there needs to be a solution to the
border crisis and the railroads are doing their part.
“They’re willing to step up and provide additional resources to
ensure the safety and security at these crossings if need be,
and they’ve offered that to Customs and Border Patrol,” Denzler
said. “For the flow of commerce, we need to make sure that these
are open full time or at a minimum windows where the trains can
roll through at certain times.”
Alongside the Illinois groups asking the lines be reopened are
organizations from Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Wisconsin
and 11 other states.
|
|
