Key Railroad Crossings at Southern Border Shut Down Over Surge in Migrant Smuggling

More key crossing points on the United States-Mexico border were closed off Monday morning, this time to railway traffic in El Paso and Eagle Pass, as smugglers continue "peddling disinformation" to migrants.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Sunday that the agency was closing off international rail links at the bridges in Texas so that officers could be redirected to help with detaining those who had crossed the border illegally.

“CBP is continuing to surge all available resources to safely process migrants in response to increased levels of migrant encounters at the Southwest Border, fueled by smugglers peddling disinformation to prey on vulnerable individuals," a statement issued by CBP said.

"After observing a recent resurgence of smuggling organizations moving migrants through Mexico via freight trains, CBP is taking additional actions to surge personnel and address this concerning development, including in partnership with Mexican authorities."

Multiple border crossings closed amid surge in smuggling

These rail bridges are the latest official crossing points to either be shut down or see a reduced service, as CBP struggles to deal with the thousands of new arrivals showing up at the border every day.

Some smugglers have cut holes in the border wall, with many migrants seen scrambling through and then awaiting pickup by authorities. Some have been told that if they do this, they will be processed without the need for an official appointment, which CBP says is not the case and migrants could face deportation instead.

“Over the past several weeks, CBP has made a number of operational adjustments in order to maximize our ability to respond, process, and enforce consequences," CBP's statement on Sunday continued.

"In Eagle Pass, vehicular processing remains suspended at Eagle Pass International Bridge 1. In San Diego, California, San Ysidro’s Pedestrian West operations remain suspended. In Lukeville, Arizona, the Lukeville Port of Entry remains closed."

CBP said it would continue to adjust operational plans to "maximize enforcement" against those not using lawful pathways into the U.S.

Representative Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) called for Washington D.C. to "put politics aside" and fix the border crisis.

"Our entire southern border is being dismantled by the cartels," Gonzales said in a post on X. "While mass migrant caravans pull CBP personnel off the front lines, multiple Border Patrol checkpoints have been shut down, allowing contraband & criminals to flow in without resistance."

On Capitol Hill on Monday, GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham said that politicians were nowhere near a deal over the border crisis, which is tied up in disagreements over granting additional funding to Ukraine and Israel.