Staff Reports
The Department of Homeland Security made a bombshell announcement, declaring a halt to all freight train operations at the Mexico-El Paso and Eagle Pass crossings in Texas. Why the sudden stop? Apparently, the officers need to divert their focus from routine duties to assist the Border Patrol in handling the continuous influx of migrants. It seems President Biden’s open-border approach is causing quite a stir in their operational flow.
DHS suspends freight train operations at two border crossings due to migrant surgehttps://t.co/FN6IF6NBL0 pic.twitter.com/JL1tAS3hI9
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) December 18, 2023
As of Monday morning, these closures mark another setback for the Biden administration. Chaos seems to be the new norm at the border. Customs and Border Protection highlighted a resurgence of migrants boarding freight trains in Mexico, prompting this necessary shutdown. In times of desperation, drastic actions become essential, they say.
The administration is consistently playing catch-up with smuggling cartels, who appear to hold significant sway at the border. They almost dictate when and where waves of migrants attempt entry. This overwhelming surge puts Border Patrol agents in a bind, creating opportunities for cartels to sneak in contraband when oversight is lax.
The timing of these train closures couldn’t be worse as the Biden administration navigates border security negotiations in Capitol Hill. Republicans are sounding alarms, demanding substantial policy changes in a $106 billion emergency national security spending bill. However, it seems President Biden is selectively hearing these concerns, sticking to his open-arms policy and witnessing record-breaking encounters with unauthorized migrants.
But that’s not all. Recent weeks have witnessed complete shutdowns at Lukeville, Arizona’s border crossing, suspension of vehicle processing at one of Eagle Pass’ international bridges, and significantly reduced crossings at San Ysidro in California. Is it just me, or does it feel like it's time to sound the alarm?
Representative Tony Gonzales, a no-nonsense Texas Republican, is understandably fed up with the situation. He views these shutdowns as a glaring indication that the border situation has hit rock bottom. With mass migrant caravans diverting CBP personnel, the hardworking border checkpoints are left vulnerable, enabling contraband and criminals to enter unchecked. Trade is suffering, and law enforcement officers are bracing for a demoralizing holiday season filled with overtime and stress. Thanks, Biden.
