MISSION, Texas - The president and CEO of the Texas International Produce Association says the fresh produce industry could be decimated by Gov. Greg Abbott’s latest border security policies.
Abbott recently announced the Department of Public Safety would start inspecting trucks coming into Texas from Mexico, even though they have already been inspected by U.S. Customs & Border Protection.
“This is destroying our business and the reputation of Texas. I foresee companies making plans to move their business to New Mexico and Arizona,” said Dante L. Galeazzi, on behalf of TIPA, in a letter to Abbott. TIPA is headquartered in Mission, Texas.
Galeazzi, pictured above, said that on the evening of April 7, soon after DPS started inspecting trucks that had crossed the Pharr International Bridges, a miles long line developed. He said the standstill was not cleared until 2 in the morning.
"Today, the line is at a stand-still as trucks are crawling out of the import lot. Many carriers and brokers are reporting hours of non-movement,” Galeazzi said, referring to inbound truck movements at the Pharr bridge on April 8.
Abbott announced DPS would be inspecting trucks coming from Mexico soon after the Biden Administration said it would no longer enforce Title 42 at the border. Title 42 allows the federal government to turn back migrants on health grounds. The policy was first implemented at border ports of entry by the Trump Administration at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.
“With the ending of Title 42 expulsions, more must be done. A series of new strategies that will be added on to Operation Lone Star to curtail the flow of drug cartel smuggling of migrants and drugs,” Abbott said, at a news conference at the DPS regional headquarters in Weslaco last week.
“The first involves inspections. A zero tolerance policy for unsafe vehicles for smuggling migrants across the border is being implemented immediately,” Abbott said.
“Cartels use vehicles many of them dangerous commercial trucks to smuggle immigrants, deadly fentanyl, and other illegal cargo into Texas and onto our roadways. Effective immediately the Texas Department of Public Safety will conduct enhanced safety inspections of vehicles as they cross the international ports of entry into Texas.”
Abbott said he was implementing the inspections even though it would harm cross border trade.
“Now I know in advance this is going to dramatically slow traffic from Mexico into Texas. It is a byproduct of cartels crossing the border from Mexico into Texas,” Abbott said.
Here is the letter TIPA president and CEO Dante L. Galeazzi sent to Governor Abbott:
April 8, 2022
The Honorable Governor Abbott
PO Box 308
Austin, Texas 78767
RE: Seeking Relief or Process Change to Texas Border Truck Inspection Enforcement Action
Dear Governor Abbott,
On behalf of the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA), and $9 billion dollars and more than 1.28 billion pounds of fresh product that cross from Mexico into Texas annually, we implore you to modify the deployment of this enforcement action in light of the dramatic impacts it is having on the movement of trade.
Last night, commercial trucks crossing the Pharr International Bridges were in a miles long line that took until nearly 2 a.m. this morning to clear the bridge. Today, the line is at a stand-still as trucks are crawling out of the import lot. Many carriers and brokers are reporting hours of non-movement.
Border security is an important element of this region, but so is the trade that keeps millions of Texans employed. According to a study from Texas A&M, fresh produce arriving from Mexico not only employs nearly 8,000 Texas but is also responsible for $850 million in economic impact to the state. Further, our industry is in the midst of the “Easter Pull” in which grocery stores are ordering products for the holiday promotion. The execution of this order has wreaked havoc up and down our supply chain and is likely to leave state store shelves with limited fresh produce supplies.
Warehouses have staff sitting idle, with no trucks to unload. Buyers in other parts of the country cannot understand why their product is not available. US trucking companies are losing money as they sit around for days with no loads to haul. I have even heard from a member that a trucking company is refusing to send trucks south of San Antonio out of concern there will be no cargo available. This is destroying our business and the reputation of Texas. I foresee companies making plans to move their business to New Mexico and Arizona.
TIPA urges your office to modify this action. We implore you to work with the the Department of Homeland Security on a more effective process which meets the country’s need for security while balancing our dependency on efficient trade.
Sincerely,
Dante L. Galeazzi
CEO/President
Texas International Produce Association
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