Non-Essential Travel Restrictions on U.S.-Mexico Border Extended to May 21, 2021
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.,
Copyright 2021
United States and Mexico government officials agreed to extend the non-essential travel restrictions on the U.S.-Mexico border to May 21, 2021, according to Edgar Ramirez, Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, at a press conference on Tuesday, April 20, 2021.
Initially, the non-essential travel restrictions between the United States, Mexico, and Canada borders were implemented on March 2020 and have remained in place until now-May 21, 2021.
The reason given by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for extending the non-essential travel restrictions is “to deter the spread of COVID-19 and protect our citizens.”
The non-essential travel restrictions have caused devastating economic damages to all U.S.-Mexico border cities, counties, and states. For instance, the City of Eagle Pass, Texas has documented the loss of up to $350,000 to $450,000 per month in loss of international bridge revenues since the restrictions were implemented in March 2020, totaling between $4,550,000 (million) to $5,850,000 (million) during the past 13 months. The City of Eagle Pass relies upon 40% of its annual fiscal budget from international bridge revenues, causing it to implement budgetary measures to survive the loss of revenues.
Eagle Pass Mayor Luis E. Sifuentes stated that he was disappointed with the extension of the non-essential travel restrictions to May 21, 2021 and that the City of Eagle Pass may take necessary measures to absorb the loss of international bridge revenues. Mayor Sifuentes noted that he hopes that the non-essential travel restrictions will be lifted on or before May 21, allowing Mexican citizens with visas to travel into the United States.
The U.S.-Mexico border is one of the busiest in the world with over one million people crossing every day and $1.7 billion worth of international trade being exchanged daily.
