Traffic at Laredo, Texas, border bridge temporarily halted

Feb. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it temporarily halted all traffic at the bridge connecting Laredo, Texas, and Mexico on Monday.

The agency said it had reports of a group of migrants planning to attempt to cross the border at the location. Border officials closed the Gateway to the Americas Bridge -- to both northbound and southbound traffic -- at about 2:30 p.m. and reopened it a brief time later. 

"Bridge traffic at Gateway to the Americas Bridge is temporarily halted in both directions due to the possible threat of a significant group of undocumented migrants attempting entry without inspection at the bridge. CBP has deployed Mobile Field Force members to the area as a precaution. Vehicular traffic is being temporarily diverted to Juarez-Lincoln Bridge and Colombia-Solidarity Bridge in the interim," the CBP said. 

The incident came one day after border agents wearing riot gear were deployed to the Tornillo port of entry in Texas after a group of migrants approached seeking asylum.

"CBP officers were able to accommodate a small number because of port processing capacity limits but the majority were not allowed to make entry at that time," CBP said. "CBP mobile field force officers were deployed to Tornillo to help manage the queue."