Thursday, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol commissioner, Alan Bersin will travel to Big Bend National Park in Texas to announce the building of a new border crossing in Boquillas Canyon.
While the crossing will not be built anytime soon, Thursday’s discussion will be to figure out how to get those with legal documentation from one side of the border to another. Until that can be determined, Marfa Sector Border Patrol spokesman Bill Brooks says the crossing will only be used by park officials and staff.
“The actual public opening is a ways off, “ said Brooks.
The decision to build it was made after years of locals requesting one after three other river crossings were closed aback in 2002. Day-trippers used the crossings to get to and from work and to trade goods. Park visitors were also sad to see the crossings close, as they used them to take short trips to the small Mexican villages just over the border and across the Rio Grande. Right now, the closest crossing is 60 miles from the park in Presidio.
