San Luis businesses feel impact from border changes

With a continued military presence at the border and construction adding to longer wait times, businesses in San Luis Arizona have started to feel the economic impact.

More than 200,000 crossings were recorded in September through the San Luis port of entry, since then that number has decreased.

The addition of razor wire lining the border has sparked some fear for nearby residents but they have also said its the currency exchange rate that is impacting cross-border traffic.

“Recently we have seen a decrease in people coming from Mexico and most of our sales do come from people from Mexico. We depend on them a lot,” said Sandra Luces, an employee at Kids Club for the past two years.
Luces said that she can feel the impact of what’s taking place right outside of her store.

“I believe it’s a combination of everything, the longer border wait times, the migrants and the migrant caravan, everything plays a factor,” said Luces.

Another factor that has played a role in the decrease in sales is the currency exchange rate between the United States and Mexico.

“The peso is very high right now from two months ago it was at 18 and it’s at 20,” said Luces.

The current exchange rate is 20 pesos per U.S. dollar.

The Mayor of San Luis said that there has been a decrease in people crossing because of how difficult it has been.

“We won’t see it until a couple of months from now, but it will affect San Luis Arizona because we depend on sales tax, so it will affect our economy and budget,” said Gerardo Sanchez, Mayor of San Luis