Mexico has asked the US government to mediate between Texas state police and cargo truck drivers crossing the border, as the country’s president accused Texas Governor Rick Perry of “complicating the migration situation.”
Mexico’s foreign ministry urged the US government to intervene with Texas to put an end to the thorough cargo truck inspections conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Last month, state officials resumed expensive, time-consuming freight truck inspections. They are required, according to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, to stop the flow of immigrants and illegal substances into the nation.
Mexican President, Andres Obrador called Abbott’s measures ‘unilateral’ and ‘irresponsible’ in a press conference Monday morning, alleging the governor was taking advantage of the situation as he was up for re-election.
The inspections come as a spike of migrants arrive at the US Mexico border, with record numbers of people moving across the continent.
Report says the measure has held up some $1.9 billion in goods, Mexico’s national cargo transport chamber said on Sunday.
Along with the state-mandated inspections, cargo has been slowed by the temporary closure of US federal processing at several crossings, Mexico’s foreign ministry added.
After dialogue between the two countries, the Bridge of the Americas between El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez will partially reopen Mexico said.