“Restricted” Travel to Mexico—Thousands Cross Border for Tacos, Haircuts, Groceries, Family Visits – By Judicial Watch Staff (Judicial Watch) / April 10 2020
The U.S. government has ordered Americans to avoid international travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the State Department has specifically “restricted” transit between the U.S. and Mexico, yet southern border crossings are hotbeds of traffic that are jeopardizing the health of federal agents charged with screening the influx. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sources tell Judicial Watch that thousands in border states, especially Arizona, are taking daily jaunts to Mexico to have lunch (yes, many restaurants are open there), shop and visit family. “It’s crazy,” said veteran CBP agent Patricia Cramer, who also serves as president of the Arizona chapter of the agency’s employee union. “U.S. citizens and residents are crossing freely into Mexico for non-essential activities like lunch, dinner or a haircut,” Cramer says agents are telling her. Many return to the U.S. the same day, creating a gridlock that must be screened by CBP officers.
In some Mexican border towns, such as Sonora, there is no Coronavirus monitoring, U.S. federal agents say, and the area is wide open for all sorts of business. In San Luis it is a bit stricter, but restaurants are still open. Hordes of Americans are escaping the virus restrictions by going to Mexico, according to federal agents on the front line. Under COVID-19 protocols Mexican nationals are not allowed to go back and forth via land crossings for non-essential travel, but those with legal U.S. residency (green cards) and citizens cannot be stopped. Cramer and her fellow agents are calling on elected officials to help curb the non-essential cross border traffic. “The hundreds of cars in line to get across the border around noon, that’s people going to get tacos, haircuts, groceries or family visits,” Cramer said, a fact that she assures CBP officers have confirmed.
Cramer as well as many of her CBP colleagues believe the Trump administration has not stopped the leisurely cross-border traffic that clearly violates the government’s COVID-19 directive because it prioritizes facilitating travel. “They’re not protecting us on the frontline,” according to one agency veteran. Cramer reminds that agents must come into contact with every single person that enters the country. “Citizens and green-card holders are not taking this virus or the lockdown orders seriously,” Cramer said, adding that they are exposing front line officers and entire communities. CPB has more than 60,000 employees and the agency is charged with keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the U.S. while facilitating lawful international travel and trade.
Continue to article: https://www.judicialwatch.org/corruption-chronicles/restricted-travel-to-mexico-thousands-cross-border-for-tacos-haircuts-groceries-family-visits/
