U.S. Customs and Border Protection reopened the rail crossings at Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas, Friday after a nearly five-day closure to deal with a surge of migrants at the Mexico border.

Farm groups that had called for an end to the closure welcomed the decision.

“This is certainly a welcome relief,” National Corn Growers Association President Harold Wolle said in a news release. “We are very appreciative that CBP was responsive to our calls to have the border crossings re-opened, but we hope this experience serves as a cautionary tale moving forward. Rail is a key mode of transportation for our exports into Mexico, so closing rail crossings can have devastating ramifications for farmers and the economy.”

CBP said in a statement it had redirected personnel from the rail crossings to address the “recent shift in the trends of smuggling organizations moving migrants through Mexico” and said it will "prioritize its border security mission" as the situation evolves.

“We continue to assess security situations, adjust our operational plans and deploy resources to maximize enforcement efforts against those noncitizens who do not use lawful pathways or processes such as CBP One and those without a legal basis to remain in the United States,” CBP said.

A White House spokesperson said the rail crossings will be resume 24-hour-a-day operations for the next few days. "We will continue to engage with industry leaders to mitigate any impact of the temporary closures,” the spokesperson said. 

Union Pacific said in a statement the company was “relieved” the border crossings will reopen. The rail carrier plans to restore normal operations as quickly as possible as it works through the five-day backlog of shipments waiting to cross the border.

The National Grain and Feed Association and North American Export Grain Association said in a joint statement that any closure at the crossings into Mexico is “unacceptable and significantly impacts the flow of grain and oilseeds for both human and livestock feed” to one of the top U.S. ag export destinations.

In requests to reopen the crossings, groups estimated the closings halted 1 million bushels of grain movement each day and resulted in an overall $200 million per day in lost sales for the U.S. economy.  

NGFA and NAEGA called on the U.S. and Mexico governments to put in place measures on both sides of the border to prevent this from happening again.

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“The free flow of trade across the border is critical to food security for our countries and the region at large,” the grain groups said. “A plan must be in place to keep the border open to commerce between our nations.”

A statement from the National Association of Wheat Growers said wheat growers "trust CBP will take the steps needed to avoid rail closures in the future, and we are grateful for their efforts to maintain border security and facilitate lawful trade."

Emily Skor, Growth Energy CEO, said it's grateful to CBP for “listening to the chorus of industry voices calling for a better approach.”

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Union Pacific said in a post on X that it invests billions annually to protect its rail network and secure U.S. border crossings. “Very few migrants cross into the U.S. on trains. In fact, during this massive surge only 5 people have attempted to come into the U.S. on Union Pacific trains in the last 5 weeks,” UP said.

UP estimates 450,000 rail shipments move across these two gateways annually. “It would take over one million trucks to move the same amount of goods,” UP said on X.

Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., said in a statement that since Monday, railroads have had to hold over 100 train sets, equivalent to more than 100,000 rail cars and 10 million tons of commodities and goods.

Marshall previously said it may take 30 to 60 days to overcome the challenges created from the closures.

“I’m grateful CBP acted quickly before further damage could be done to the many Iowans and other producers who depend on these rail crossings for trade. However, the backlog caused by this closure will surely be felt for weeks to come," said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, in a statement to Agri-Pulse. "It’s never been more clear that the Biden administration’s open border policies have an impact far beyond the southern border alone. We must secure the border and protect our national security.”

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