DES MOINES, Iowa — All six members of Iowa's congressional delegation signed a letter criticizing the Biden administration for temporarily closing rail crossings in Texas, saying the decision will hurt Iowa farmers.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection suspended rail operations in Eagle Pass and El Paso on Sunday in order to reallocate resources to processing migrants.
“We continue to adjust our operational plans 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 in a press release.
With these two rail crossings closed, goods are unable to travel across the border to Mexico - including agricultural exports from Iowa.
In a letter addressed to President Joe Biden and Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas, Iowa's congressmembers slammed the Biden administration for its "failure to secure the border".
"Let us be clear: this punitive move to harm America’s farmers will exacerbate the pain already felt by families across the country because of the border crisis you caused," the letter reads.
El Paso and Eagle Pass represent 45% of cross-border Union Pacific business, according to Union Pacific. In addition, Union Pacific estimates more than $200 million in goods, wages and transportation costs are lost every day the border crossings remain closed.
"Iowa proudly leads the country in agriculture, with our farmers working day in, day out to feed and fuel the world," Iowa's congressional delegation writes in the letter. "The importance of rail for transporting Iowa’s grain and agricultural products across the country cannot be overstated."
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds echoed the Iowa delegation's concerns, saying in part, "The Biden Administration is punishing Iowa farmers and American consumers by ignoring their constitutional duty to address the invasion of our country at the Southern border."