Photograph by Alexandra Rangel
Above: San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce signal is photographed on April 21, 2021.
Restrictions on non-essential crossings on the U.S.-Mexico border have been prolonged by means of Could 21. The Division of Homeland Safety says it’s to discourage the unfold of COVID-19.
U.S. residents and folks with working visas can come and go as they please, however vacationer visa holders don’t have the identical privilege. And people with vacationer visas occur to be the individuals who hold the economic system going for the companies in San Ysidro.
Jason Wells, govt director of the San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce, mentioned the chamber at present serves about 800 companies. He mentioned the bulk are in a two mile radius of the border crossing.
“You narrow off 95% of your buyer base … how are you going to outlive?” Wells mentioned.
Sunny Gakhreja, the proprietor of Sunny Perfumes and Maya’s Pizza mentioned he’s put all the things he has into protecting his doorways open.
“It is a arduous scenario, you recognize, as a result of I am unable to simply shut down. I’ve to carry it up. I’m hoping issues will open, hopefully ahead of later,” Gakhreja mentioned.
Sunny says PPP loans are what’s protecting him afloat.
“Now we have a bit of help from right here and there from town and the federal government, nevertheless it’s not sufficient. It’s very arduous to outlive,” Gakhreja mentioned.
The San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce has made efforts to speak to the Biden administration. They not too long ago wrote a letter to the president urging him to re-examine border journey restrictions. They’ve but to obtain a response.
“We simply haven’t any illustration. There’s simply nobody serving to and we’ve obtained complete communities from right here to Brownsville which might be simply dying on the vine,” Wells mentioned.
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Alexandra Rangel
Freelance Reporter
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