It is possible that all of us Tijuana natives have thought about it more than once: don't the businesses of San Ysidro need us in their economy, as much as we need the tourists?

The answer is yes, we are so important to these businesses that Jason Wells, director of the San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce, revealed to The San Diego Union-Tribune that many businesses will close forever if the border doesn't open for the holiday season.

He added that the best season for those businesses is from November 20 and to January 6, the dates corresponding to the holiday of the Mexican Revolution and Three Kings Day respectively.

However, despite this need for Tijuana residents to do their Christmas shopping in San Diego, border restrictions continue. These restrictions expressly prohibit the transit of Tijuana residents with tourist visas to the United States.

As specified by the governments, this is the agreement reached by both countries (actually three, because Canada is governed by the same criteria) and it will be until November 21st that the status of this restriction will be updated.

Notwithstanding the above, the San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce is sending letters to the County authorities demanding that they lift the restrictions, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.

So what do we know so far? Marcelo Ebrard already said it months ago: in order to consider a reactivación of border activity, the state must be under a green light. Unfortunately, Baja California, which had remained yellow, has just turned orange due to new COVID-19 infections.

Resolution: those with tourist visas will have to wait until November 21, and trust that the pressure exerted by the San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce will influence the reopening of activities on the border.

Here is a list of those who are allowed to cross into the United States for "essential" reasons:

-Citizens or permanent residents returning to the United States

-Individuals traveling for medical reasons (e.g., to receive treatment in the U.S. or Mexico)

-Individuals who travel to attend educational institutions

-Individuals who travel to work in the United States (e.g., day laborers in the agricultural industry who must travel between the United States and Canada or between the United States and Mexico to perform such work)

-Individuals traveling in response to an emergency or for public health purposes (e.g., government officials responding to emergencies or entering the country to assist in COVID-19 or other emergencies)

-Individuals involved in cross-border trade (such as cargo truck drivers)

-Individuals traveling for official government or diplomatic reasons

-Members of the armed forces and their husbands, wives and children who are returning to the United States

-Individuals who travel for issues related to military operations.

Border News 4th week of October