Port in Progress
The Nogales ports of entry are practically a city unto themselves. With over 9,000 people and hundreds of tons of produce and other imports crossing the border every single day, problems are naturally going to arise.
The issues are old and new, ranging from staffing and security all the way down to the sewage system, where cleaning the wastewater that gets dumped into the Santa Cruz River may cost as much as $100 million. A micro-industry has even sprung up selling drinks, food, and other small necessities to truckers stuck in line at the border crossings.
The sewage issue may prove to be one of the most vexing. Cleanup crews began replacing damaged portions of the pipeline in mid-September, but disputes over responsibility for the system’s maintenance—the city of Nogales or the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission—caused delays and upped costs.
Worse still, the repairs pushed into November during peak produce crossings, cutting off access to Interstate 19 and numerous warehouses in the area. Though trucks could be rerouted, it still caused headaches for shippers and receivers.
Advocating for change
Obviously, few are happy with the situation. A recent round-table meeting with federal officials in Nogales drew complaints from local organizations and community members on everything from civil rights to border patrol policies.
There were even protests in June when state agricultural inspectors staged a work stoppage in Nogales, decrying long hours and working conditions. The workers were nonunion and complained of substandard equipment in warehouses and inadequate pay for days that often extended beyond 12 hours, sometimes to even 16 hours during peak seasons.
Twenty-five inspectors were involved in the walkout, which centered on work weeks of up to 90 hours with very few breaks and the threat of retaliation if they refused the shifts. The walkout came at a particularly critical time—the Mexican grape deal—but certainly brought the issues to both the industry and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s attention. Though there was no immediate resolution, the USDA agreed to investigate working conditions and wage requirements.
Personnel shuffles and wait times
Just two years after a quarter-billion-dollar expansion to the Mariposa Port of Entry, the addition of four new commercial inspection lanes has not alleviated wait times as much as predicted, due to staffing difficulties and high turnover rates.
While port personnel claim there are reduced wait times at peak crossings, off-hours are still understaffed, and wait times continue to lag at crucial times.
