Local businesses fear economic impact of president’s threat of border shutdown
President Donald Trump’s recent statement regarding shutting down the U.S./ Mexico border due to the migrant caravan heading towards the United States has local business owners in fear of its economic impact.
About 60 percent of the local businesses’ consumers come from Mexico, according to the data received by the Imperial County Board of Supervisors.
“It will be a tremendous impact economically, most retailers depend on the border crosser for shopping. They come here on the daily basis and to stop them, it will be devastating for us,” said Raymond Castillo, Chairman of Board of Supervisor.
Castillo adds that it will take a tremendous economic impact to the Imperial Valley.
“So you could imagine if you close the border, you’re stopping 60 percent of the buyers for all of our stores in the valley and that would be a big hit leaving people jobless,” said Castillo.
A resident of Calexico, Natalia Vasquez, grew up in the border town community of Calexico and has family living in Mexicali including her daughter. She said that she’s torn apart of the decision that the president wants to take because, for her, her world is in both sides of the border.
“I have a daughter in Mexico, I’m in the process of getting her to come and live with me, but I work in the U.S. So if the administration does shut down the border, it will affect me. Either I go live with her and not work or stay in the U.S. and risk not seeing her,” said Vasquez.
Calexico’s West Port of Entry data shows about 4.8 million pedestrians cross each year, which makes Calexico’s Port of Entry the third busiest port in California. Castillo adds that in the Mexicali region, Calexico is a critical economic engine, emphasizing how important it would be for the administration to reconsider their decision on shutting the Southern border.
“I hope that the administration will reconsider and look at other alternatives, but don’t use shutting the border. There has to be another way,” said Castillo.
