A year after the border first closed due to the pandemic, there are no plans in place for safely reopening the border.

Local officials and citizens have voiced concerns about the continued closure and the announcement this week that Mexico will impose travel restrictions on U.S. citizens for the first time.

Rep. Henry Cuellar said the continued closures are not benefiting the local border economies despite the significant decline in COVID-19 cases and deaths seen in the area.

“Without disrespect to Mexico, Mexico doesn’t tell us when we reopen our border even though we do try to have mutual agreements with them, but that is something that the U.S. needs to decide,” Cuellar said. “They are getting 2.5 million vaccines from us, our cases have gone down, and so I am hoping that we can start on our side making that decision ourselves without disrespect to Mexico and see if we can safely open this back up.”

Although Mexico announced its new restrictions would be similar to the ones by the U.S. by restricting non-essential activities at the borders, it has been vague about what the restrictions put into effect Friday will entail.

American citizens who live in the country or travel to Nuevo Laredo via the land bridges have not reported any incidents.

“I was wondering what they would ask me on the other side, but I was not questioned or anything when I crossed in my car,” said Jose Montoya, an American citizen in Nuevo Laredo who works in the U.S. “The only thing I saw is there are sanitary control filters once you cross that are returning back any vehicles that have the corresponding license plates that should not be out of the country. Other than that, everything is normal as usual.”

Cuellar said he is not sure what the new measures will be but that they would only affect land ports and not other ports of entry. He said this is problematic as it shows the country is favoring people who come into the country to spend large amounts of money at tourist locations but not those who regularly travel between borders.

“I do not know what they have in mind, but I can tell you that places where Americans go spend a lot of money they are welcoming those people in places like Cancun, Acapulco, Tulum, and they’ve got people coming down as these Americans are spending money,” Cuellar said. “What I am going to try to see is when we will allow the Mexicans to come over and shop, which I believe will be more of a decision by us as they have said that they want to open up soon, but it will take at least 30 days.”

Cuellar has long supported a phase-by-phase reopening of the border by establishing a plan where people crossing must take rapid COVID-19 tests. Under such a plan, Mexican citizens who test positive would return to their country to quarantine, while American citizens and permanent residents would be allowed to enter back into the country under a quarantine plan to ensure infections are minimized. Though Cuellar has had the plan for months, it never gained traction under the past presidential administration, and discussions with the current administration on the plan have not happened yet.

Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz also said he hopes the border fully opens soon as the closure his significantly impacted the economy.

“I am not certain, but if it has not been the longest closure then arguably I would think it has been the most costly to our city, our state and national economies,” Saenz said.

As cases decline and vaccination efforts increase on both sides of the border, many people are voicing support for opening the border.

“I think it's ruining our economy and it’s time to open it up with precaution,” local business owner Veronica Valdez said. “It doesn’t make sense how illegals are entering through the river and are received with open arms. And yet, Mexican tourists or Mexicans with visas are not allowed. They have done everything the right way but can’t cross the border.”

Saenz believes it is ironic the border is open for several people and not for all trying to come in the right way.

“That is truly the irony, however, I am cognizant that this nation has asylum laws that allow some undocumented people to claim such right, if indeed they are successful to qualify and prevail,” Saenz said.

Some people pointed to the ability to travel via air or water as a reason to open the land ports.

“People are still arriving in San Antonio, McAllen, Miami and revitalizing economies,” Papillon Rosa said. “With proper precautions we should also open the borders.”

Others simply expressed hope for life returning to normal so people such as business owners can begin rebounding from the difficult year.

“Let’s hope and pray that once the majority get the vaccine, the store employees locally and customers from Mexico feel more at ease to come and buy goods here,” Alberto Omar Perez said. “Our great city of Laredo needs the people from Mexico. Our economy depends on them.”

Perez said he feels sad going through downtown and even the local malls and seeing how they are slowly dying. He hopes the reopening happens before it is too late for many businesses that are on the brink of failure.

“It is sad to see the entire mall shutting down,” Perez said. “It’s beginning to look like a ghost town. But again, it is all about feeling safe and making sure it is safe to go out once again. May God bless us all.”

While the timeline for opening the border remains unknown, Saenz said the city is ready to welcome back people from Nuevo Laredo. He said they are more than just economic assets and that there are many family members who have not seen each other for over a year.

“As always, we will receive them with open arms,” Saenz said. “They are our neighbors and very much part of our families. They contribute greatly to our social-cultural activities and business vitality. We are a binational region at the border, and our livelihoods at many levels are very dependent on this symbiotic and respectful relationship.”