Border restrictions have been extended for another month through March 21 which will make it an entire year since they were put in place by the Trump administration.

The announcement of the continued border closure was made through the official Twitter account of Homeland Security: “To protect our citizens and prevent the further spread of COVID-19, the United States, Canada, and Mexico are extending the restrictions on non-essential travel at our land borders through March 21. We are also working to ensure essential trade and travel remain open.”

The announcement is similar to ones done in the past during the Trump administration, and it is the first during the Biden administration. Congressman Henry Cuellar does not agree fully with the idea for these restrictions as he continues to have grievances about little being done and about undocumented people being allowed into the country but legal people with tourist visas not being allowed.

“I still think that this is the United States of America, and we could have put certain safeguards in the border to protect the border community,” Cuellar said. “Mexican businesses that depended on Mexican shoppers, they closed down at 100%. They should have done an attempt to open back up accordingly like other businesses did percentage wise.”

Many closed businesses in Texas saw their doors reopen after the main lockdown in April and early May to 25% and then 50% as cases improved. Cuellar believes this would have been a good way to reopen the border.

Cuellar said the Laredo and Texas economies have suffered heavy losses in the past year due to these restrictions as more than 18 million Mexicans who travel annually into the country have not been allowed to do so. This has meant the lost of about $19 billion in revenue that is usually expected from this group.

“That means that this year in March our economy has lost $19 billion that goes to restaurants, stores and all of our hotels and all that,” Cuellar said.

Since the border restrictions have heavily impacted local businesses, Cuellar held various discussions in downtown Laredo and other surrounding areas to advocate for the needs of those businesses being affected. He proposed a plan in which they would conduct rapid tests for incoming Mexican tourists, but it never gained much traction.

Cuellar said former president Donald Trump never allowed this plan to happen, but he hopes this changes with Joe Biden. However, he understands many of the secretaries and heads of agencies needed to conduct work on this matter have not yet been appointed to their positions.

“There are ways to do this, but they have still yet not allow this. But I will continue to work on this as I think there must be a balance between the economy and the health of individuals,” Cuellar said.

One major area of concern that the congressman noted is the irony that the current administration is allowing many undocumented people into the country while they are not allowing tourist visa holders, who are legally allowed to enter the country, to come to the U.S.

“The reality is that they are letting undocumemted people come to the U.S., but they are not letting people with visas, card holders, come across,” Cuellar said. “In other words, they are letting in people right now such as family units when Border Patrol does not even check them for COVID-19, and they are letting these people in and they are starting to let in the MPP (Migrant Protection Protocol). So what we have is in reality they are letting undocumented people into the U.S.”

While there have been rumors about the Biden administration increasing restrictions along the border, Cuellar said he has not heard of any such plans.

“I think everything is still going to stay the same,” Cuellar said. “I have talked to CBP (Custom and Border Protection), and they have not told me about anything else.”

Laredoans are mixed with their views on the continued border restrictions.

“Yes, it helps a lot,” Rene Fuentes said. “Don’t get me wrong, I feel for Mexico since the shutdown started, but it’s for a good cause and safety measures. I hope it gets better so we can go back to our normal life.”

Several Laredoans believe tougher limitations and restrictions should be put in place to make communities on both sides safer.

“People still come and go as they please including many home health providers,” Tony Cruz said. “I know they need their jobs and all, but like someone mentioned before, they do not take the same precautions as we do. If only people believed there is a real problem, both in Nuevo Laredo as in Laredo, and opted to do the right thing by wearing a mask, safe distancing, hand washing, citizens of both cities would be safer.”

Other people believe the border restrictions should have been more equal or not be enacted at all.

“It is not fair for people from over there to not be allowed to come while we can continue going,” Jose Maria Zuniga said. “Its not fair, and the policy needs to change for the betterment of this situation.”

Cuellar understands businesses along the border continue to be affected by the pandemic, and he said he will continue working to bring relief to the area and to make sure these restrictions are lifted even if it comes in a phase-by-phase manner to ensure the health of individuals and the health of the economy.

“Once the vaccine distribution really starts picking up, I do believe they will feel a lot more comfortable about allowing people back to start coming across,” Cuellar said.