On Friday, December 22nd, the Department of Homeland Security authorized reopening of the rail crossings at Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas.  The bridges were closed to rail traffic on Monday, December 18th as a result of an upsurge in migrants that overwhelmed U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 

The precipitous action had a severe impact on the rail industry and U.S. producers.  It is estimated that exports of up to one million bushels of grain were lost each day as a result of the closure.  Manufacturers in the U.S. were deprived of critical components from affiliate factories in Mexico, threatening jobs and productivity. 

The resumption of rail traffic was welcomed by agricultural and industry sources on both sides of the border. Ian Jefferies, CEO of the Association of American Railroads, stated, “These ill-advised closures were a blunt-forced tool that did nothing to bolster law enforcement capacity.”

The Foreign Ministry of Mexico noted, “It was necessary to reopen border crossings as soon as possible to guarantee dynamic trade flows and enhance the economic relationship between the U.S. and Mexico.”  The poultry industry in Mexico was extremely vulnerable due to the low storage levels of yellow corn and soybeans.  The major farm lobby, CNA, analogous to the American Farm Bureau Federation, stated, “The lack of supplies in Mexico caused by the closures was affecting food production, raising costs and putting food security at risk in the country.”

The decision to close the Eagle Pass and El Paso, TX. rail crossings was somewhat analogous to the injudicious action of George Fotheringay, the major character in the 1898 novel by H.G. Wells, The Man Who Could Work Miracles. In the futuristic novel he stopped the rotation of the earth to buy time to solve his problem with disastrous results.  The moral of the story is to be careful what you wish for.  Closing the rail bridges was clearly a knee-jerk reaction without consideration of the consequences and should not be repeated.