SAN ANTONIO – The information got here in a tweet from the workplace of Mexico’s Overseas Secretary that stated the knowledge got here from the U.S. authorities, adopted by one other tweet indicating the reopening would rely on the variety of COVID-19 circumstances and vaccinations on each side of the border.
Nonetheless, a spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Safety, who had seen the tweets, stated no official phrase had come but from the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety.
The choice to impose the travel restrictions on the Mexican and Canadian borders was made firstly of the pandemic in March 2020 by DHS and the Facilities for Illness Management.
Cuellar’s push to carry these restrictions was joined by the Texas Border Coalition in a letter (learn beneath) to Homeland Safety Secretary Alexander Mayorkas, signed by quite a few teams, together with the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
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Marina Gonzales, the chamber’s president and CEO, stated, lots of the “non-essential” vacationers who come to San Antonio have had a median financial influence of $19 billion a yr, which helps 650,000 jobs.
Cuellar has been questioning the disparity over who’s allowed within the U.S, like undocumented immigrants however not authorized visa holders.
He additionally stated Mexican nationals who can afford it will probably fly into the nation.
“Why are the Mexicans a well being problem, those that cross by land, (however) not by airplane?” Cuellar stated he requested the Division of Homeland Safety. “They don’t have any reply. It is extremely perplexing.”
Gonzales stated she agrees with Cuellar.
“We should always not simply be ensuring that these that may afford to fly and go to us are in a position to, whereas we shut the borders to people who drive and stroll,” Gonzales stated.
Each Gonzales and Cuellar stated there must be a option to reopen the border safely by screening these vacationers for COVID-19 at land ports of entry.
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“If we are able to do this at airports, why can we not do it simply on a case by case foundation? We are able to do this,” Cuellar stated.
However so far, Cuellar stated there’s been no response to that concept.
You’ll be able to learn the letter from the Texas Border Coaliton to Homeland Safety Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas beneath:
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