Prosecutors said the men allowed dozens of cars with undocumented immigrants to pass through their inspection lanes in Southern California in exchange for cash.

© Meridith Kohut for The New York Times

The loophole has allowed retailers to send goods from China directly to U.S. shoppers without paying tariffs. Closing it could raise consumer prices.

Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Mexico undermines his stated intention to eliminate the “chaos” at America’s southern border.