US to reopen border crossings as illegal immigration drops

People wait behind concertina wire and newly installed barriers to turn themselves to the U.S. border authorities, in Brownsville, Texas, as seen from Matamoros, Mexico, December 29, 2023. REUTERS/Veronica G. Cardenas

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. will reopen four legal U.S.-Mexico border crossings on Thursday as high levels of illegal immigration have receded and freed up personnel, U.S. border authorities said on Tuesday.

The U.S. will resume operations at an international bridge in Eagle Pass, Texas, two crossings in Arizona and another near San Diego, California, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in a press release, adding that it will continue to prioritize border security "as necessary."