The Interstate 35 border checkpoint was temporarily closed on Wednesday night after a semi truck hit a cement pole, causing an oil spill.
The incident occurred on June 5th at the Lane 4 entrance within the Laredo Sector checkpoint in Texas. The checkpoint was not closed until about 11 p.m.
According to Beaumont Enterprise, the checkpoint was closed due to precautionary measures.
“The checkpoint is temporarily closed, pending cleanup, but enforcement efforts continue and include roving patrol operations on Interstate 35,” the US Border Patrol Agency wrote in a statement.
The spilled oil caused safety concerns for the agents who continued to work in the conditions for the National Border Patrol Council Local 2455, the union that represents the agents.
“This oil is getting on agents’ uniforms and shoes. The end result is that agents will take this oil home to their spouses and children,” the union stated. “That is harmful to the agents’ health and to the public. Unacceptable that Laredo North Swing Shift management is placing our agents and their families in these dangerous conditions.”
No further information about the closure has been released.