El Paso business leaders concerned about economic impact of long lines at ports of entry

The long amount of time it takes commercial vehicles to enter the U.S. at El Paso ports of entry could impact local and national businesses, local leaders say.

The Trump Administration recently shifted resources away from ports of entry in order to help the U.S. Border Patrol process the staggering amount of undocumented immigrants arriving at the U.S. to request asylum. That has led to an increase in the amount of time it takes commercial vehicles to enter the U.S. from Mexico.

International Business Accelerator Executive Director Jerry Pacheco said our region is “a distribution center for the world,” and the long lines at the border are posing a problem for trade.

El Paso Mayor Dee Margo said about 2,600 commercial vehicles enter El Paso’s ports of entry every day, bringing in an estimated “$121 million in cargo per day.”

Mayor Margo said the delays at the international bridges “are so significant, businesses are having to air ship” their products.

Pacheco told ABC-7 he knows of two Juarez-based companies already using this method in order to meet deadlines, even if it means a cost increase of roughly 30 percent.

“You actually have companies from Juarez shipping by truck to Chihuahua City and their freight is then airlifted out of Chihuahua City,” said Pacheco, “that’s how bad it’s gotten.”

A prime example, according to Pacheco, is the auto industry and its impact across North America.

“For every job here in Santa Teresa, three jobs are supported back in the Midwest, and if you ride the supply chain, you’re disrupting it all through the system,” said Pacheco.

Margo said delays are causing businesses to look elsewhere to set up operations. “They’re moving some production lines farther east towards Laredo,” Margo said.

Whether they move or not, the issue affects business supply chain throughout the country. “We’re one part, piece of the puzzle,” said Pacheco. “Our ability to compete globally against China, against European Union, against other trade blocs is really impinged.”