Ciudad Juárez border crossings see unusual traffic amid visa fears

International bridges connecting Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, and El Paso, Texas, experienced unusual traffic patterns on Sunday, August 16. During the early morning hours, crossings such as Paso del Norte, Zaragoza, and Libre saw minimal activity, with wait times as low as 5 to 10 minutes.

Authorities attributed this sudden decrease in morning traffic to widespread public fear regarding potential U.S. authority operations involving the revocation of visas. This uncertainty led many residents to avoid the border during the early hours.

As the day progressed, traffic levels returned to more typical patterns. By midday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported average wait times of approximately one hour. During the afternoon, congestion peaked at several locations, with the Paso del Norte bridge recording delays of up to 80 minutes in the general traffic lane. Other crossings, including Córdova-Américas and San Jerónimo-Santa Teresa, also reported significant wait times, while SENTRI lanes remained the most fluid.