The governor of Tamaulipas reached an agreement Friday with Gov. Greg Abbott to allow routine inspections of commercial trucks at international bridges, the fourth Mexican border governor to do so, likely alleviating the remaining backlogs to cross-border trade.
Tamaulipas Gov. Francisco Javier García Cabeza de Vaca met with Abbott at the Texas Department of Public Safety’s office in Weslaco to announce the agreement that calls for stepped-up border security efforts in the Mexican state that skirts Texas’ southernmost counties.
In return, Abbott is ending a short-lived program to inspect commercial vehicle traffic at the border, amid backlash from industry trade groups, business leaders and politicians from both parties.
The resumption of routine inspections by DPS is dependent on continued heightened border enforcement on the Mexican side. If that enforcement subsides, Abbott said he “will not hesitate” to impose his order that every truck be examined for safety.
“There is the expectation that the Mexican states I have negotiated deals with will do what is necessary to reduce illegal immigration,” Abbott said. “And there’s the consequence that, if not, 100% inspections will be reinstated.”
The inspections by the state do not involve trucks’ cargo. Federal border authorities carry out those inspections.
Abbott’s order imposed last week, which was part of several steps he said were necessary because the Biden White House has not done enough to curtail unauthorized border crossings, sparked howls of protests as trucks remained backed up at border bridges for several hours.
The policy also has become a flashpoint in the gubernatorial election campaign. Abbott’s Democratic opponent, Beto O’Rourke, said Friday in his hometown of El Paso that Abbott’s policies needlessly burdened Texas business and consumers.
“This was a problem that Greg Abbott created to score political points,” O’Rourke said. “We literally got nothing except higher inflation and economic damage to the state of Texas. Our border communities are now less competitive for attracting business, investment and talent and we create more chaos.”
More:Beto O’Rourke: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is ‘causing chaos on the border’
Friday’s agreement was the third such agreement over the past two days.
On Thursday, Gov. María Eugenia “Maru” Campos of the Mexican state of Chihuahua joined Abbott in Austin to announce a deal to get trucks moving again into El Paso.
Abbott said Campos presented “the best border security plan that I have seen from any governor of Mexico.” And Campos said Chihuahua would collaborate with DPS.
Later Thursday, Abbott’s office announced a similar agreement with Coahuila Gov. Miguel Ángel Riquelme Solís.
The first agreement was announced Wednesday when Nuevo León Gov. Samuel Alejandro García Sepúlveda met with Abbott in South Texas.
Abbott defended his policies as necessary, even though the inspections did not result in the apprehension of migrants entering the country or in the discovery of illicit drugs. But he acknowledged the economic hardship and uncertainty that were outgrowths of his order.
“I understand the concern that businesses have about trying to move products across the bridge,” Abbott said. “But I also know the anger that Texans face and have that is caused by Joe Biden not securing the border. Texas will not tolerate the endless stream of illegal immigrants crossing the border.”
Cabeza de Vaca said he has taken steps to improve security between his state and Texas since taking office in 2016. Part of his agreement with Abbott calls for Tamaulipas authorities to increase monitoring near bridges and at low-water crossings on the Rio Grande.
“We are delighted always to be a partner in every endeavor regarding trade, travel and security of our shared border,” Cabeza de Vaca said. “Thank you for trusting us and asking for assistance in this matter. We’re happy to help.”
Abbott also urged businesses on both sides of the border that have been hurt by the trade slowdown his order caused to pressure federal authorities in the United States and in Mexico to find a way to curb illegal immigration.
“Because it is going to cause financial challenges to businesses, especially in Mexico, if we have to reimplement these measures, which I’m not hesitant to do so whatsoever,” Abbott said.
John C. Moritz covers Texas government and politics for the USA Today Network in Austin. Contact him at jmoritz@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @JohnnieMo.
