US to reopen four legal crossings along southern border

Four legal crossings along the southern border will reopen Thursday after being shut down due to an increase in migrant encounters, authorities announced Tuesday.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced legal border crossings in Texas, Arizona and California would be reopened starting at various times Thursday morning. This comes just a month after the agency shut down a handful of border crossings along the southwest border, citing increased levels of migrants as well as migrant smuggling as the reason.

The agency emphasized that it is continuing to enforce action against those who do not enter the U.S. legally or who do not have a legal argument to stay in the country.

“CBP will continue to prioritize our border security mission as necessary in response to this evolving situation,” the agency said in a statement. “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 scheduling an appointment via CBP One — and those without a legal basis to remain in the United States.” 

The border crossings to be reopened are located in Eagle Pass, Texas; San Diego, Calif.; Lukeville, Ariz.; and Nogales, Ariz. 

The announcement comes as a group of 60 GOP lawmakers is scheduled to visit the Eagle Pass border crossing on Wednesday as Republicans hope to ramp up pressure on border security talks in the new year. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) sent President Biden a letter last month urging him to take executive action on the border, which many Republicans say has gotten out of control under Biden’s leadership.

 “Statutory reforms designed to restore operational control at our southern border must be enacted, but the crisis at our southern border has deteriorated to such an extent that significant action can wait no longer. It must start now, and it must start with you,” Johnson wrote at the time.