Mexican Customs Systems Failure Causes Traffic Backup In Laredo, Texas: Cause Yet Unknown
The United States did more trade with Mexico than any nation ever in 2023, and Port Laredo became the country’s top port making it a possible high-priority target for cyberattacks.
LAREDO, TEXAS - The World Trade Bridge in Laredo has experienced heavy traffic congestion and the city has mobilized “all of its assets to reduce commercial congestion on Loop 20 and IH-35,” according to a statement by the Laredo Mayor after what is being described as a “glitch” or a “system failure” in the Mexican Customs system over on the Mexican side of the border.
The Laredo Police Department advised noncommercial vehicles to take alternate routes from the Bob Bullock Loop.
“Use caution and expect significant delays! If you are not a commercial motor vehicle, it is advisable to stay off the Loop and stick to the access roads,” the LPD statement said.
“The City of Laredo has begun mobilizing all its assets to reduce commercial congestion on Loop 20 and IH-35. The congestion is due to a system outage on the Mexican side bridge operations. We are in close contact with ANAM and our Mexican counterparts, who are working diligently to resolve the problem by tomorrow morning to avoid further disruption and mitigation by the City.” - Mayor Dr. Victor Trevino, City of Laredo
The issues began on Wednesday morning and have persisted throughout since then, with some traffic coming into Mexico from the United States being at a standstill at times.
The cause of the system failure hasn’t yet been disclosed and no timeline for the resumption of normal operations has been released.
Thousands of trucks bound from Mexico to the United States cross the border into Laredo each day and the number increases as trade between the United States and Mexico grows.