San Diego, Tijuana Leaders Praise Travel Ban Lift, Border Reopening – NBC 7 San Diego
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After the US-Mexico border reopened for non-essential travel for the first time in 19 months, dignitaries from both sides of the border gathered at the San Ysidro port of entry on Monday morning to commemorate the event.
“After much anticipation and endorsement, I am grateful that the day has finally arrived to celebrate the resumption of cross-border travel,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria.
“As much as it is now about being able to finally strengthen our local economy and the companies that rely on cross-border trade, it is also about people – families who can now be reunited after almost 20 months of border crossing restrictions . “
The San Ysidro port of entry is one of the busiest land border crossings in the world, but it – and every other border crossing along the 1.954 mile border – has been open since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The closure was detrimental to the border city of San Ysidro – where more than 200 companies were permanently closed during the pandemic – as well as to the tourism industry of the cities on both sides of the border.
“The lifting of the border restrictions frees up economic transactions and a surge in tourism across borders,” said the Mexican Consul General in San Diego, Ambassador Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez.
“More importantly, thousands of friends, family members and communities will restore the continued contact that existed before the pandemic.
“These human bonds are the primary link between San Diego and Mexico,” he said.
Nora Vargas, deputy chairwoman of the district board of directors, said she was relieved that the border would be reopened and what this would mean for the economy.
“The lifting of non-essential travel restrictions will bring much-needed relief to our region, both economically and socially, for our families,” said Vargas. “This is a big step forward and provides an opportunity to find new ways to increase our binational workforce and to re-imagine what a full economic recovery will look like in our binational region.”
Starting Monday, all cross-border commuters over the age of 18 who are non-US citizens or legal permanent residents must have a vaccination card with them. As of January, all non-US citizens or legal permanent residents must be fully vaccinated to cross the border.
Speakers at Monday’s event included Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Avila Olmeda, Tijuana Mayor Montserrat Caballero, and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas.
“Today, after more than 18 months of pandemic-related travel restrictions, the DHS is taking a decisive step towards resuming normal travel,” said Mayorkas. “Travelers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and who have the relevant documents are now allowed to do so for non-essential reasons, such as
“DHS continues to work closely with our international partners and local public health experts to resume travel sustainably while protecting our communities and economic security,” he said.
Since an increase in the volume of travel across the border is to be expected, officials advise the public to plan for longer waiting times at the ports of entry. U.S. Customs and Border Protection recommends that non-essential travelers do not cross during peak travel hours, which are 4:00 am to 9:00 am Monday through Friday and 2:00 pm to midnight Saturday to Sunday.
CBP also recommends using the appropriate lanes and, if necessary, filling out the I-94 forms online before crossing.
The San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports of entry will remain open 24/7 and the Tecate port of entry will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
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