Joco Today

Washington, D.C. – A group of Republican senators, including Roger Marshall and Pete Ricketts, have criticized Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for suspending railway commerce at the southern border in order to process more migrants. In a letter addressed to Secretary Mayorkas, the senators demanded the immediate reopening of railway commerce at the border.

The Biden administration recently closed railway routes that process over $200 million in international commerce daily. The staff responsible for these routes was redirected to assist in processing illegal migrants at the southern border. Senators Marshall, Ricketts, and their colleagues expressed serious concern over the suspension of international railway crossings and rail operations in Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas.

The senators highlighted the severity of the border crisis, with over 6.6 million encounters at the southern border since President Biden took office. They emphasized the need for real solutions to address the increasing flow of illegal immigration. The closure of rail service and international crossings in Eagle Pass and El Paso has directly impacted the movement of goods across the North American rail network, disrupting the supply chain and affecting North American consumers.

The success of the trade partnership between the United States and Mexico relies on the smooth operation of these international railway crossings. In 2022, U.S. goods and services trade with Mexico amounted to an estimated $855.1 billion. Eagle Pass and El Paso accounted for 35.8% of all cross-border rail traffic between the two countries, handling products such as grains, consumer goods, automobiles, auto parts, and chemicals. The closure of these entry points has significant economic implications, with American producers and consumers suffering daily.

The senators urged Secretary Mayorkas to reopen the rail ports of entry at Eagle Pass and El Paso, emphasizing the need for smarter and more effective policies to address the unprecedented crisis at the southern border. They called on the administration to engage with Congress and enact real policy changes to halt the flow of illegal migration.

The letter was signed by Senators Roger Marshall, Pete Ricketts, John Cornyn, Katie Boyd Britt, Cynthia Lummis, Thom Tillis, Jerry Moran, and Marsha Blackburn, who collectively voiced their concerns over the suspension of rail commerce and its impact on national security, the economy, and the supply chain.

As the border crisis continues to escalate, the Republican senators are urging the Biden administration to take immediate action and implement effective policies to address the challenges at the southern border.

To find out more, go to this link: https://www.marshall.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/gop-senators-slam-mayorkas-for-suspending-rail-commerce-at-border-to-process-more-migrants/