Dear California Readers,
Good morning, Inequality Insights readers. I'm CalMatters reporter Wendy Fry.
California border communities are feeling the strain of long delays at the U.S.-Mexico border. In recent months, border lines have often stretched for hours, frustrating the more than 150,000 students, cross-border families, health care workers and small business owners who travel to and from Mexico every day. The federal government is spending billions of dollars to reduce wait times at the border, but small business owners say long delays threaten their livelihoods.
Watch the harrowing line in this CalMatters video.
San Isidro has been particularly affected. Local businesses have reported concerns about the long-term economic health of border communities as a significant drop in foot traffic has led to decreased sales.
El Rincon, a small local family-run restaurant, talked about how it is impacting their business. “People just aren't coming in as much as they used to because people aren't coming and going,” said Andrea Alaniz, the owner's daughter.
Sunil Gaherja, who runs a perfume shop near the border, said the delays have significantly reduced the number of customers and affected his revenue. But more importantly, I feel sorry for the people who waste their lives in the line.
“Money can be exchanged, but time can never be returned,” Gakerja told CalMatters this week. Hear from local business owners and people from across the border in this video from CalMatters and The Local.
Local business leaders are pushing for better solutions to border delays, including more efficient staffing of Customs and Border Protection booths added during the $741 million expansion of the San Ysidro Port of Entry. Seeking a solution.
This situation highlights the strong link between border policy and local economies in Baja California and California.
Customs and Border Protection says it needs to shift resources to deal with large groups of migrants who cross the border irregularly into the United States, usually to seek asylum.
Federal officials said in January that “CBP has taken significant steps to surge personnel and resources to affected sectors and address the challenges we are experiencing across our Southwest border.” Ta.
Photos of your favorite conditions: CalMatters launched in partnership with CatchLight California in pictures, a new monthly newsletter highlighting compelling photojournalism from across the state. Sign up to receive the first edition on May 1st.
