Plumbing 
Traffic coming in from Mexico to Eagle Pass was reduced to one of two bridges on Sept. 20. Effective 6 p.m., people moving between the United States and Mexico were required to take the city’s second bridge after its first was closed due to an influx of migrants entering Eagle Pass. The bridge crossing into Del Rio remained open as of Wednesday afternoon but was reduced to two lanes, according to a customs agent.
In a news release dated Sept. 19, but posted online Sept. 20, Eagle Pass mayor Rolando Salinas Jr. issued an emergency declaration due to “a severe undocumented immigrant surge.” The state of disaster status the city now holds will be in place for about a week, according to the release. The declaration activates the city’s emergency plan, authorizing it to seek additional aid, such as requested financial resources.
As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, traffic entering Del Rio remained slow moving, a staff member at the city of Del Rio said. Traffic had been reduced down to two lanes, she said, adding that the city hadn’t yet received advisement to issue an emergency declaration of any kind.
An agent working on the bridge told the Leader-News that the bridge would remain open for the time being, but said other questions would need to be taken to Dennis Smith, regional press officer for the Del Rio station. Smith was not immediately available to answer specific questions on what Del Rio plans to do to navigate increased traffic into the country.
Sofi Zeman (szeman@ulnnow.com, 830-278-3335) covers education and crime for the Uvalde Leader-News as a Report for America corps member. Report for America (www.reportforamerica.org) is a national service program that places talented emerging journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered topics and communities across the United States and its territories.
