San Luis mayor pleads for president to re-open border
News 11's Crystal Jimenez reports
SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - For more than a year, the Southern border has been closed off to non-essential travel due to the pandemic. The City of San Luis' Mayor Gerardo Sanchez is now saying, it's time to fully re-open the border.
It was March 2020 when the Department of Homeland Security announced it's partnerships with Mexico and Canada to close the borders to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
During a press conference on Monday, President Biden said it's the first time coronavirus cases are down in all 50 states. Another factor to why Mayor Sanchez believes it's time to completely open the border.
Tuesday, Mexican government officials announced the closure will be extended to June 21st.
Mayor Sanchez says, "The City of San Luis relies on pedestrian traffic, on vehicle traffic. 70% of the sales tax generated comes from people across the border." He continues that over the past year, the amount of people coming by has taken a drastic fall.
Where just seven businesses off of Main Street in San Luis have had to close it's doors due to the pandemic. If the border doesn't reopen, Mayor Sanchez believes this trend can continue.
