Governors of several Mexican states that border Texas are hammering out deals to ease ramped-up inspections at their border checkpoints. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said it’s all about border security, but truckers say the decision is costing millions.
Gov. Abbott hopes an agreement with the governor of Nuevo Leon to increase security leads to other similar actions.
“Until however those agreements are reached with those states, the Texas Department of Public Safety will continue to thoroughly inspect vehicles entering into the United States from every Mexican state except Nuevo Leon,” said Abbott.
The President and Ceo of the Texas Trucking Association, which has endorsed Governor Abbott, supports finding a solution with other Mexican state governors. But for now, John Esparza said these backups are causing major headaches, will affect goods going throughout the United States, and can’t be sustained.
“It was not uncommon to hear four, five-hour delays, six, seven, 12 miles of trucks awaiting individual inspections,” said Esparza.
Gov. Abbott said he understands the concerns, but blames the Biden administration for not doing more to secure the border.
“But I also know well the frustration of my fellow Texans and my fellow Americans caused by the Biden administration not securing our border,” said Abbott.
“Right now factually there is over one million dollars in trade crossing over the US Mexico border every minute. These actions are impacting people’s jobs and the livelihoods of hard-working families in Texas and across the country. That’s not a political statement, that is a statement of fact,” said White House Press Sec. Jen Psaki.
But a fellow Republican, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, is frustrated with the situation.
“Typically in the winter months, a lot of our produce, fresh fruits, vegetables, tropical fruit, come from Mexico and Central America. So those are not getting through they are rotting on the truck
Miller said that his people are already going through the produce trucks. He is hopeful there is an end to this soon.
