Businesses in San Ysidro lost an estimated $5.3 million during Sunday’s five-hour border closure, the local chamber reported Monday.
The San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce said the closure came during the crucial holiday sales season and had a “devastating” impact.
“Sunday’s closure alone represents a $5.3 million loss, just from San Ysidro business,” said chamber Executive Director Jason Wells in a message to community leaders. “Other businesses, from Chula Vista, to National City, to San Diego and beyond were also affected.”
Wells said 93 percent of the San Ysidro area’s customers come from Mexico, so three quarters of the businesses were forced to close for the day around noon, including the sprawling Las Americas Premium Outlets.
“The situation facing our border — mass migration of Central Americans from failed states — is complex and is felt nowhere as strongly as in San Ysidro,” he said.
He thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection and San Diego Police for their efforts Sunday, and said Mexico must also help, criticizing federal police for “simply stepping aside as protestors headed for the U.S. border.”
Wells said businesses in Tijuana were also hurt in the shutdown, indicating the need for a bi-national political solution.
“Allowing ports of entry to be rushed, allowing port closures, is irresponsible, unacceptable and avoidable,” he said.
