- Title: Mexicans lament U.S. coronavirus border restrictions as presidents tout ties
- Date: 21st March 2020
- Summary: CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO (MARCH 21, 2020) (REUTER) VARIOUS, CONCERTINA WIRE AND SIGNS AT U.S.-MEXICO BORDER U.S. BORDER OFFICERS WITH CAR ATTEMPTING TO ENTER U.S. U.S. FLAG AT BORDER CAR TURNS AROUND MEXICAN FLAG CAR DRIVES BACK INTO MEXICO AFTER BEING TURNED AWAY VARIOUS, BORDER OFFICERS WITH CARS ATTEMPTING TO ENTER U.S. CAR DRIVES THROUGH BORDER PEOPLE AT PEDESTRIAN BORDER CROSSING SIGN MARKING U.S.-MEXICO BORDER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LOCAL RESIDENT WHO WANTED TO VISIT HIS PARENTS WHO LIVE IN THE U.S., JOEL SOSA, SAYING: "Unfortunately, they denied the crossing to El Paso. I'm going to visit my parents who are elderly and need support, they need help buying things, I have their medicine, they need food. Unfortunately, they (U.S. officials) don't feel it in their hearts and now I don't know how I'm going to visit my parents. I'm really worried because I'm not going to see them for a long time." SOSA WALKING BACK ACROSS BRIDGE CONCERTINA WIRE AT BORDER VEHICLE CROSSING BORDER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LOCAL RESIDENT WHO HOPED TO GO TO EL PASO TO VISIT HER BROTHER, JUANA HERNANDEZ, SAYING: "Well, maybe (border restrictions aren't bad) since there aren't so many people, but why then can everyone cross from over there to here? We should also take the same actions. We should do it, it should be the same." VARIOUS, BORDER FENCE SEEN FROM BRIDGE LOCAL RESIDENT WHO PURCHASES ITEMS IN THE U.S. TO SELL IN MEXICO, LETICIA VARGAS, WALKING ACROSS BORDER BRIDGE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LOCAL RESIDENT WHO PURCHASES ITEMS IN THE U.S. TO SELL IN MEXICO, LETICIA VARGAS, SAYING: "For me (the restrictions) are OK, but it does affect us, because we buy things to sell here and now we're clearly not going to be able to buy anything. Yes, it affects us, but it's good that they (U.S.) are taking these actions, for them and for us."
- Embargoed: 4th April 2020 22:52
- Keywords: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Mexico Trump U.S.A. border coronavirus crossing immigration president restrictions
- Location: CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO / INTERNET
- City: CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO / INTERNET
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001C5ZW9QF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Mexicans in Ciudad Juarez accustomed to regularly crossing the border into the U.S. said Saturday (March 21) they were affected by the restrictions the U.S. has imposed on its southern border even as the country's leaders said the border would not close in order to preserve bilateral trade.
Joel Sosa said he was hoping to go to El Paso to visit his parents who are elderly, but was turned back. "I'm really worried because I'm not going to see them for a long time," said Sosa.
Others, however, noted that while the restrictions affected them personally, they agreed with the measures meant to control the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus.
Meanwhile, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took to Twitter to thank his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump for not closing the shared border.
Trump said on Friday (March 20) the United States would swiftly return any migrants who attempt to enter the country illegally, from Mexico or Canada, while closing both U.S. borders to "non-essential" travel to limit the spread of coronavirus.
Trump also said the United States and Mexico would work to keep commerce moving as much as possible across the border to try to limit disruptions to business and commerce.
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