Daniel Borunda of the El Paso Times is reporting the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has temporarily suspended railway crossings at specific border crossings to shift staffing for a surge of migrants. He writes:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is temporarily suspending freight train railway crossings at border bridges in El Paso and Eagle Pass to shift staffing because of a surging numbers of migrants, CBP said.
The border agency temporarily suspended operations at the international railway crossings starting at 8 a.m. (local time) on Monday, Dec. 18, at bridges in El Paso and in Eagle Pass in South Texas.
CBP said that staff is being redirected to assist the U.S. Border Patrol with taking migrants into custody and processing while prioritizing border security in what CBP described as an “evolving situation.” […]
The Border Patrol emphasized that crossing the border between the ports of entry is illegal. Persons who attempt to enter the U.S. without authorization — and unable to establish a legal basis to remain in the country — will be deported and face a minimum five-year ban on reentry, the Border Patrol said in a statement.
“El Paso Sector continues to remain vigilant and enforcing consequences under U.S. immigration law,” El Paso Border Patrol Chief Anthony “Scott” Good said in a statement. “No one should believe the lies of transnational criminal organizations. These criminal organizations prey on vulnerable individuals for financial gain. The truth is that individuals and families put their lives in peril by crossing the border illegally.”
El Paso Times reporter Vic Kolenc contributed to this report.
Read more here.
