San Luis port of entry improvements gain support
Crossing back from Mexico thru the San Luis Port of Entry feels like a chore in itself. It is no surprise that if you must cross over, you should expect to wait for hours to get back inside to the US.
Improvements to the San Luis Port of Entry might actually become a reality.
Many local and state representatives are teaming up to push and show support for the almost $248 million proposed in the 2020 Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill to fund the improvements needed at the San Luis Port of Entry.
Every year we see over 3.2 million cars plus 2.5 million people cross back to the United States via the San Luis Port of Entry.
Russ Jones, President of the Arizona-Mexico Commission shares how the public often takes that entry port and the immediate areas around it for granted.
“People sometimes don’t really appreciate how important San Luis is,” said Jones. “You know it’s the fifth busiest port when it comes to pedestrians and cars on the entire Mexico-US border.”
The fifth busiest along the border but also the 2 nd busiest in the entire state of Arizona.
$248 million is the figure that will be allocated to add extra lanes to the already congested lanes and hopes of hiring extra Customs and Border patrol (CBP) agents to man those extra lanes.
The large figure is getting much support from Arizona lawmakers. Over the past days, Republican Senator Martha McSally and Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema released a joint letter of support for the funding to improve the San Luis Port of Entry.
Among others Congressman Raul Grijalva also released a similar letter.
The highest support was shared publicly by Arizona Governor Doug Ducey on Friday.
City of San Luis Mayor Gerardo Sanchez shared how the funding can finally alleviate some tension that has been threatening the local economy but the public safety as well.
“The ports especially the one in San Luis is the first line of defense in regard to homeland security,” said Mayor Sanchez. “It is an economic catalyst to promote growth, to promote business.”
According to the City of San Luis, it is estimated that 70% of the sales taxes generated are from visitors from Mexico.
“We get a lot of (Mexicali) traffic that crosses thru San Luis to shop in Yuma,” said Jones. “So it’s an economic development issue.”
Not only will the improvements help speed the processing of returning home and accessing entry into the United States but it will also allow for the continued familial ties that we know and live along the border.
“After a few generations someone is married or related to someone on either side of the border,” shared Jones. “So it’s about shopping, the society, the culture that we have and the ability to visit family and friends and not have to spend half a day in a line.”
Copyright 2018 KYMA
