LUKEVILLE, Ariz. (KGUN) — Businesses that relied on cross border tourism are seeing huge dips in revenue just one week after the Lukeville Port of Entry closed.
CBP made the call last week to close down legal travel so port officers could help border patrol with the surge in illegal immigration.
The Why Not Travel Store manager in Why, Arizona, says business has come to a near standstill.
“It’s been slow. We’ve had to cut hours," Nez said.
Their main customers are drivers filling up for gas before they cross the border and head to Rocky Point.
Bernadette Nez tells me since the Lukeville Port closed they’ve made only $5,000.
“That’s how much we usually make in a day.”
Business on both sides of the border is taking a hit.
— Adam Klepp (@AdamKleppAZ) December 12, 2023
“That’s how much we usually make in a day," Bernadette Nez said.
“I would say if the port isn’t opened by Christmas, a lot of businesses will close.” Rocky Point resort manager @Hectorjr71 said.
Full story later on @kgun9 pic.twitter.com/nt33dxZxeJ
Adding if the port stays closed the store can’t afford to stay open seven days a week.
“If it’s going to be like another two to three weeks, then we’ll have to be open a few days a week," Nez said.
South of the border, beaches in Rocky Point are empty.
And Hector Vazquez del M's Las Palomas resort has 3% occupancy.
“It’s really, really bad," Vazquez del M said. "It is worse than the COVID pandemic.”
He says if the resorts are empty, it has a domino effect on bars, restaurants, shops, tours and more.
“I would say if the port isn’t opened by Christmas, a lot of businesses will close," Vazquez del M said.
There’s no timetable for when it could reopen.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, and Arizona Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly have sent letters to President Biden asking him to let the state National Guard help re-open the port.