LAREDO, Texas - U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar has voiced concern with Gov. Greg Abbott’s so-called “enhanced safety inspections.”
In a letter penned to Abbott, the Laredo Democrat has urged the Governor to reconsider his recent decision to inspect trucks crossing north from Mexico.
The inspections are in addition to those being conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Fresh produce importers have said the inspections have caused chaos at the border, with their cargo rotting in trucks while waiting to be inspected. According to Cuellar (pictured above), there has been a 35% decrease in commercial traffic at the Pharr International Bridge and a 60 percent drop in commercial traffic at the Colombia Solidarity Bridge.
On Wednesday, Abbott said truck inspections at the Colombia Solidarity Bridge would end if the the state of Nuevo Leon starts inspecting the trucks. Abbott said the governor of Nuevo Leon has agreed to do so. Colombia is the only land port of entry in Nuevo Leon.
Cuellar said that has vice chair of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, he shares Abbott’s concerns about border security. However, he said the governor’s new policy “will only exacerbate the difficult circumstances that South Texans are facing.”
The congressman’s letter concluded: “In the interests of all Texans, we must ensure that the state resources are deployed in the most effective manner possible and not to the detriment of the communities that we represent. I am asking you to stand down the DPS inspections immediately. Thank you for your consideration.”
Here is the Cuellar letter in full:
The Honorable Greg Abbott Governor of Texas
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711
Dear Governor Abbott:
April 13, 2022
I write to you with a sense of urgency regarding your escalation of Operation Lone Star, which undermines our national supply chains and jeopardizes the economic security of our border communities. As the Vice Chair of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, I share your immigration concerns, but assure you that these actions will only exacerbate the difficult circumstances that South Texans are facing.
Requiring the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to conduct mechanical inspections (breaks, tires etc.) does nothing to address Title 42 except provide delays to the United States supply chain. Your duplicative mechanical inspections have been costly to the local, state, and national economies. None of the violations from these inspections involve the smuggling of drugs or people.
These inspections have resulted in a significant increase in commercial wait times at ports of entry. Since the inspections began, the Hidalgo/Pharr port of entry reached a peak wait time of 320 minutes. The average is 63 minutes. The result has been a 35% decrease in commercial traffic. Colombia Solidarity Bridge, which averages a 26-minute wait time, reached a peak wait time of 300 minutes and has seen over a 60% drop in commercial traffic.
My district is home to the City of Laredo, which supports the number one Land Port of Entry in the United States. This international gateway allowed for the exchange of over $205.8 billion in goods and services last year. The U.S. southwest border region requires additional resources to facilitate trade and continue its unprecedented prosperity and economic growth. This is especially true as we seek to fully suppress the COVID-19 pandemic and restore the supply chains on which American workers and families depend.
In the interests of all Texans, we must ensure that the state resources are deployed in the most effective manner possible and not to the detriment of the communities that we represent. I am asking you to stand down the DPS inspections immediately. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Henry Cuellar
Member of Congress
28th District of Texas
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