Hundreds of Mexican truck drivers have blocked two border crossings in protest against a recent wave of US visa revocations and what they describe as increased scrutiny by American authorities.
The demonstrations took place on Thursday, September 3, at border crossings in Mexicali and San Luis Río Colorado in Mexico’s Sonora state.
According to AFN News, the truckers organised the action in response to intensified inspections at the Mexico-US border and the cancellation of visas belonging to several drivers.
The protesters claim many of the affected drivers were not given adequate explanations for the visa withdrawals. They also accused Mexican authorities of failing to provide meaningful assistance to those affected.
Drivers involved in the demonstrations said inspections and questioning by US authorities had increased significantly over the past week.
Truck driver Conrado Marron Valencia alleged that American authorities had wrongly accused some Mexican drivers of cabotage, despite the drivers entering the US only to deliver goods.
He said some drivers had recently faced delays of up to nine days while delivering shipments to the US. According to Marron Valencia, the delays have been linked to changes involving customs procedures, import declarations and hold-ups at receiving locations.
“What they’re doing to the truck drivers is a witch hunt; they’re treating them like criminals, causing them psychological harm,” said Alan Verdugo, a truck driver at the protest, to KYMA. “They no longer want to travel through Mexicali, and in the WhatsApp chat groups, everyone is asking if the ICE agents are at the border crossing.”
Marron Valencia said 17 drivers in his union had their US visas cancelled within the past week. He also claimed that between two and five documents belonging to fellow union members are being withdrawn at the border each day.
He further alleged that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had threatened some drivers with detention and warned that their family members could also have their visas revoked if they refused to accept cabotage charges.
The protesting drivers said they have not received backing from any political party or organisation. They also claimed that the National Chamber of Freight Transportation had failed to support their demands.
Some trucking companies, according to the protesters, have also opposed the demonstrations because they are more concerned with maintaining their businesses and profits than addressing the drivers’ concerns.
The truckers warned that the protests could continue into the vegetable harvesting season, raising concerns about potential disruption to agricultural activities and the livelihoods of families dependent on the sector.
