A recent surge in immigrants at the El Paso port of entry has forced officials to halt all cargo operations so officials can help the Border Patrol stem the flow of people coming to the Mexican border.
The suspension of cargo processing on the Bridge of the Americas (BOTA) — one of four major bridges connecting El Paso with Mexico — began Monday, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced.
“The temporary suspension … will allow CBP Field Operations Office officers to assist US Border Patrol in processing non-citizens who have arrived between ports of entry including vulnerable populations such as families and unaccompanied children,” Customs and Border Protection said in a new release.
As The Post previously reported, cartels have encouraged migrants to head to the border and outrun operations there. El Paso has seen a spike of up to 1,700 people a day turning themselves in to Border Patrol officers. City figures showed 4,600 in CBP custody on Tuesday.
People wishing to bring their cargo to the US in El Paso are advised to use another bridge to bring their goods into the country.
Operations at the El Paso port of entry have been “temporarily” suspended so officials can assist the US Border Patrol with the large influx of migrants.REUTERS
The city of El Paso is opening an emergency migrant shelter, turning a recreation center into housing for hundreds of migrants.therealfitfamelpaso/Instagram
Passenger vehicles and pedestrians can still cross at BOTA during the cargo delay.
CBP leaders had warned of the temporary suspension before the suspension was announced Friday, according to the federal agency.
“CBP will remain in communication with stakeholders and provide updated information … The agency will work to restore normal operations as soon as possible.”
Migrants sleep on the street after being released from US Border Patrol custody in downtown El Paso.REUTERS
Cargo processing at the Bridge of the Americas is normally open from 6am to 2pm Monday through Friday when operating.
The suspension comes as more and more border communities continue to sound the alarm about the ongoing border crisis.
Leaders in El Paso warned that they are running out of space and won’t have enough space to prevent all immigrants released to the US from sleeping on the streets much longer.
“Priority No. Our 1 is the safety of our communities and the safety of our asylum seekers. We don’t want them sleeping on the streets, but at some point, we will run out of capacity,” said the city’s mayor Oscar Leeser last week.
On Monday the city announced plans to open emergency shelters for migrants to ease some of the pressure.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
