For the second day, demonstrators angry about Mexico’s gasoline price hike took over Tijuana’s El Chaparral Port of Entry for several hours during a peaceful if boisterous protest that ended after U.S. authorities blocked traffic to the port at the request of Mexican officials

The angry crowd at the U.S. border joined protesters across Mexico who have been speaking out since the New Year’s Day gas price increase of close to 20 percent that has come as President Enrique Peña Nieto has moved to deregulate the country’s energy industry.

“It is a price rise that is too high, that we can’t afford,” said Jahaira Montaño, a 30-year-old Tijuana elementary school teacher holding up a sign. “We hope the government really pays attention, and supports the people rather than filling the pockets of politicians.”

Elsewhere in Tijuana, gasoline trucks from the Mexican state-owned oil company Pemex could be seen making deliveries to gas stations across the city, and residents were once again able to fill their tanks. On Saturday, police broke up a protest that since last Monday had blocked access to the region’s main gas distribution and storage facility.


At El Chaparral on Sunday, protesters arrived at about noon to take over the inspection lanes. They waved flags and signs, while drivers signaled support with honks and thumbs up sign. For several hours, there were no Mexican customs inspectors in sight.

A statement from U.S. Customs and Border Protection said that at around 5:30 p.m., “at the request of Mexican officials in response to protesters’ disruption of their inbound operations,” the California Highway Patrol diverted highway traffic heading into Mexico through El Chaparral.

“All travelers wanting to enter Mexico in a vehicle must do so through the Otay Mesa Port of Entry until further notice,” the CBP statement said. A CBP official said that by 7:30 p.m., the Mexican facility was re-opened for southbound vehicle traffic.

Mexican officials had made the same request on Saturday after protesters commandeered the inspection lanes, and traffic was diverted for about four hours.


1 / 13 Tijuana Baja California, Mexico, January 8th, 2017: | Jesus Navaro waving at car passing through. | (Alejandro Tamayo, The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 13 Tijuana Baja California, Mexico, January 8th, 2017: | Protestors stood into the USA side signaling cars passing by. | (Alejandro Tamayo, The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 13 Tijuana Baja California, Mexico, January 8th, 2017: | Marco Antonio Salas Garcia sitting on the car waving to cars passing by. | (Alejandro Tamayo, The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 13 Tijuana Baja California, Mexico, January 8th, 2017: | Several hundred protestors came out to support. | (Alejandro Tamayo, The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 13 Tijuana Baja California, Mexico, January 8th, 2017: | Several hundred protestors came out to support. | (Alejandro Tamayo, The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 13 Tijuana Baja California, Mexico, January 8th, 2017: | Oscar holding an anti-Pe–a Nieto sign. | (Alejandro Tamayo, The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 13 Tijuana Baja California, Mexico, January 8th, 2017: | Several hundred protestors came out to support. | (Alejandro Tamayo, The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 13 Tijuana Baja California, Mexico, January 8th, 2017: | Leticia on the right holding up a sign as cars pass through the border. | (Alejandro Tamayo, The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 9 / 13 Tijuana Baja California, Mexico, January 8th, 2017: | Lady holding up a sign “Pe–a out”. | (Alejandro Tamayo, The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 10 / 13 Tijuana Baja California, Mexico, January 8th, 2017: | Several hundred protestors came out to support. | (Alejandro Tamayo, The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 11 / 13 Tijuana Baja California, Mexico, January 8th, 2017: | El Chaparral border crossing into Tijuana Mexico was disrupted a second day by protesters. Cars entering into Mexico were allowed through. | (Alejandro Tamayo, The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 12 / 13 Tijuana Baja California, Mexico, January 8th, 2017: | El Chaparral border crossing into Tijuana Mexico was disrupted a second day by protesters. Cars entering into Mexico were allowed through with out officials present. | (Alejandro Tamayo, The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 13 / 13 Tijuana Baja California, Mexico, January 8th, 2017: | A SAT official passing by the protest area. | (Alejandro Tamayo, The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Before traffic was shut down Sunday, protesters were waving vehicles through as they shouted “Fuera Peña” —“Out with Peña”.

The protests and shouting continued into the afternoon as long as traffic flowed into the port.

This story updates earlier versions filed throughout the day.


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