Two railroad bridges between Texas and Mexico have been closed due to a surge in criminal organizations smuggling migrants by train, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reports. CBP is also redeploying officers to assist border patrol agents in processing newly arrived migrants.
Among those who have made the journey to the US are Emily Escalante, her family, and two dogs. They left Venezuela four months ago, spending a month in Panama and Costa Rica working construction jobs and selling Venezuelan breakfast food to make money. Escalante and her mother cite economic crisis and the inability to afford basic necessities like food and shoes as the reasons for leaving.
To get from Mexico City to the US, the family hopped on La Bestia, a rail train that connects the two countries, and began an eight-day journey to Piedras Negras. The migrants crossed the border into Eagle Pass on December 13th and were released two days later from the CBP processing center.
In response to the surge in migrant arrivals, CBP has closed a port of entry in Lukeville, Arizona, a pedestrian crossing in San Diego, and a vehicle crossing in Eagle Pass, Texas, in addition to shutting down the rail track that brought Escalante and her family to the US. The closure of these crossings has impacted the local economy, with many customers coming from Mexico.
Regarding their move to the US, Escalante stated, “All for a better future and for the situation of our country.” She explained that the crisis in Venezuela forced her family to leave, and they would not have done so if they had another option. “If you buy food, then you can’t afford shoes,” she added, describing the dire economic situation in their home country.
Rebecca Flores, the owner of Bees & Berries Escentuals in Eagle Pass, spoke out about the impact of the border closures on her business, saying, “Our economy is greatly impacted because a lot of our customers are from Mexico.” The closures are an attempt by CBP to better manage the flow of migrants across the border but could have lasting economic consequences for those in the surrounding areas.