The economy suffered as Texas rail ports closed

US Customs and Border Protection has closed two key rail ports in Texas in an effort to stem the surge in immigration. CNBC.

whats going on: Immigration officials „announced the suspension of train operations beginning Monday in El Paso and Eagle Pass, Texas, in light of the surge in migrants crossing the border.”

• Officials said the temporary suspension would allow the government to send back personnel to assist the Border Patrol in detaining migrants.
• „Together the two railways operate 24 trains daily at these crossings.”

Why it matters: The El Paso and Eagle Pass railroads are closed, costing more than $200 million in lost goods, wages and traffic each day. Union Pacific.

• Closures affect international trade, with increasing impacts in the agriculture, food, automotive, consumer goods and industrial goods sectors.
• According to Union Pacific, a total of 10,000 rail cars are parked on both sides of the US-Mexico border.
• „El Paso and Eagle Pass accounted for $33.95 billion, or 35.8%, of all transboundary rail traffic from November 2022 through October 2023, according to data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics,” CNBC reported.

Background: That same week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed legislation that „gives state and local police the power to arrest and deport immigrants who cross the border illegally”. The Wall Street Journal (subscription).

What we do: NAM is contacting the White House, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and key Senate and House members to advocate for an immediate solution to reopening rail ports.

• „Mexico is the United States’ largest trading partner, and enabling trade between the two countries is critical to North American economic competitiveness,” said Ali Offett, NAM Trade Facilitation Policy Director. „NAM will continue to advocate for solutions that uphold our laws, while facilitating legitimate trade.”