San Isidro, California-The Department of Homeland Security will lift restrictions on non-essential border travel with Canada and Mexico next week, and businesses in the San Isidro area are responding to this move.

In March 2020, the Department of Homeland Security closed the border and prohibited non-essential travel at land and ferry ports of entry, thereby damaging businesses along the San Diego-Tijuana border.

Companies are now full of hope, waiting to cancel the extension on July 21.

As restrictions continue to extend every month, businesses in the San Ysidro area that rely on Mexican tourists for income are already feeling the impact.

“Locals tend to buy more things in the Chula Vista area, and this area is more suitable for San Ysidro and people from Tijuana,” said Manuel Martinez, Footballloco’s store manager.

Martinez said that if the restrictions were lifted next week, his store would not have enough staff to accommodate the influx of customers.

Due to the pandemic, soccerloco has only one employee to manage the entire store.

“I have worked in the San Ysidro area for a few years, and eventually I will go to some other stores to check it out,” Martinez said. “I know they also have a very transgender schedule. They have no employees, and it’s not just us, everyone is hurting now.”

According to the San Isidro Chamber of Commerce, nearly 200 businesses in the area have closed since the restrictions were imposed.

San Diego Todd Gloria signed with other border mayors and signed a letter to the Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, urging him to lift the restrictions on July 21.