Trucks and rails are down! Transportation at major U.S. border crossings has been disrupted

There has recently been a sharp increase in the number of illegal immigrants trying to reach the United States; According to US television news network CNN, more than 8,600 migrants have crossed the border in the past 24 hours. Officials in both countries have been trying to contain the situation to prevent illegal immigrants from boarding trucks bound for the United States. An increasing number of families with children are reportedly trying to reach the United States via Mexico.

Mexican authorities worked with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Ferromex, Mexico's largest rail operator.

Ferromex suspended 60 train lines last week, essentially halting service to the U.S. border, citing six accidents and deaths involving migrants. The company said it would not resume service on routes where there was a risk of more such incidents.

The shutdown of the railway is costing Ferromex as much as 40 million pesos ($2.32 million) per day, the company's management said. Other operators have also been affected. Union Pacific announced last week that 2,000 cars were stranded at Eagle Pass, Texas, as the mayor declared a state of emergency.

Amtrak also announced an embargo on shipments to Eagle Pass.Truck operations at highway crossings were also disrupted as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents were deployed to assist with immigration. 

In addition, the Department of Homeland Security has dispatched about 800 agents to border crossings.

the governor of the Mexican state of Chihuahua said that at the Bridge of the Americas in El Paso, which handled more than 161,000 trucks last year, the suspension of CBP service would affect at least 600 trailers per day, "which could represent about $33 million per day." In addition, trucks in San Diego are temporarily out of service.

The Mexican Railway Association warned that the disruption of border services would also affect domestic supply chains. Agricultural shipments, construction materials, car production and general goods distribution will all be affected.

The authorities seem concerned, too. On Friday, Mexico's foreign ministry urged the US government not to take "unilateral measures" to complicate trade.