After weeks of closure, the crossing along the Arizona and Mexico’s Border will reopen.
In an official statement, representatives from U.S. Customs and Border Protection have declared the immediate reopening of the Lukeville Port of Entry at 6:00 a.m. on January 4th.
Furthermore, officials have disclosed plans for the restoration of operations at three additional border crossings:
- Morely Gate border crossing in Nogales, Arizona
- San Ysidro’s Pedestrian West, near San Diego, California
- Eagle Pass International Bridge 1, at Eagle Pass, Texas
“CBP will continue to prioritize our border security mission as necessary in response to this evolving situation,” read a segment of the official statement.
The proclamation follows the closure of the Lukeville Port of Entry for nearly four weeks. The suspension of operations at Lukeville was initiated with the purpose of reallocating personnel to aid the U.S. Border Patrol in the apprehension of migrants. However, this endeavor proved challenging, as December witnessed an unprecedented surge in border crossings, surpassing the record set in September, with over 302,000 crossings.
In the town of Ajo, Arizona, small businesses find themselves compelled to shutter early, a consequence of both the closure and diminished travel to the city, which shares a border with Mexico.
The economic downturn has been particularly severe in Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point), where residents grapple with the impending threat to their businesses, reflecting a dire situation in this once-thriving tourist destination.
Read more from Sean Campbell, The Machine Keeps Turning