What was supposed to be a simple crossing back to Mexico ended with visas canceled , documents signed under duress, and a Mexican operator still in the custody of immigration authorities in the United States, Alfonso Millán, delegate of the National Chamber of Cargo Transportation (Canacar) in Tijuana, told T21.
“They revoked their visas and forced them to sign a form voluntarily withdrawing their request for admission to the United States. Only one refused to sign, and that’s why he remains detained, awaiting an immigration judge,” Millán said.
The case involves 20 Mexican operators who were intercepted last week by immigration authorities at a checkpoint set up at one of the exits of Calexico, California, after which they were accused of allegedly engaging in cabotage , that is, transporting merchandise within U.S. territory, an activity prohibited for Mexican trucking .
“No Mexican operator can pick up merchandise in the United States to move it to another point within the same country. We can only transport cargo from Mexico to the United States, not operate within the country,” Millán explained, emphasizing that this restriction is part of the guidelines governing binational activity and is familiar to companies and operators.
What’s worrying, however, isn’t just the labeling, but the procedure itself . Therefore, the Canacar (National Police) in Tijuana traveled to the Mexican consulate in the area to thoroughly understand the status of each operator and provide institutional support.
“We must respect the regulations,” Millán emphasized, stressing that it’s also about supporting operators to ensure they don’t engage in any improper procedures.
In this regard, he emphasized the importance of operators receiving further training on the rules they must follow when operating in the United States.
Millán also noted that they are analyzing whether this case could have been a pharmaceutical shipment , since certain products in this industry require longer processes , in which the operator must wait in the United States until receiving health or customs approval to continue moving the merchandise.
This case occurs in a context of growing pressure on Mexican trucking , where in addition to the issue of cabotage, border notifications have already begun to be issued for English language proficiency.
“Warnings have already been issued along the entire border from Texas,” Millán said.
However, he clarified that the arrests did not occur due to a lack of English proficiency.
He assured that investigations into the matter are still ongoing, and that CANACARE is monitoring any developments or updates.
Comment and follow us on X: @karinaquintero / @GrupoT21
