US, Mexico: Enhanced safety inspections, truckers' protests likely to disrupt traffic across Texas-Mexico border through at least mid-April

Event

Mexican truck drivers are likely to continue to block major routes across the US-Mexico border through at least mid-April. Truck drivers have blocked multiple bridges spanning the border in recent days to protest an order by Texas Governor Greg Abbot to conduct enhanced safety inspections of commercial vehicles entering the US at Texas border ports. The enhanced safety inspections have reportedly resulted in significant border crossing delays at some ports of entry. Related protests have notably blocked traffic across at least three bridges in the El Paso-Ciudad Juarez area in recent days, including the Santa Teresa bridge connecting New Mexico with Chihuahua, as well as the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge that connects Texas with Tamaulipas.

Longer-than-usual wait times are likely at border crossing points between Texas and Mexico over at least the short term due to the enhanced safety inspections. Protest activity may further impede the flow of commercial and other traffic at some US-Mexico border crossings over the coming days. Heightened security will likely be maintained on both sides of affected border crossing points as long as the enhanced safety inspections and related protests continue.

Supply chain disruptions and shortages of perishable goods are possible if the enhanced safety inspections and protests persist beyond mid-April. Clashes between protesters and security forces also cannot be ruled out.

Advice

Confirm the status of border crossings before routing shipments across the Texas-Mexico border. Allow additional time to pass through affected border crossings while the enhanced safety inspections and related protests continue. Avoid large gatherings of protesters and leave the immediate area if clashes break out between demonstrators and security forces. Adhere to all instructions issued by border authorities.