DEL RIO, Texas — The crisis unfolding at a makeshift camp of nearly 15,000 mostly Haitian migrants under the Del Rio International Bridge has a devastating impact on the local community of Del Rio, Texas. Although mostly out of the public eye due to the remote location of the camp, residents are feeling the impact in the small Texas town. The closure of ports of entry leading to Acuna, Coahuila, Mexico, forced many local businesses in Del Rio to operate with fewer employees.
As in other cities along the border, Del Rio and Acuna have a symbiotic relationship based on legitimate cross-border trade and travel. The back-and-forth daily crossings between the border cities keep both economies working in harmony. Hundreds of United States citizens and legal permanent residents live in Mexico and commute daily to work and shop in Del Rio. Many Del Rio residents cross into their sister city in Mexico for doctor visits or to shop and dine.
Breitbart Texas spoke to a restaurant manager in Del Rio on Saturday who explained he lost half of his staff due to the closure of Del Rio’s ports of entry.
“My workers are not going to drive to Piedras Negras, nearly 60 miles away, to cross the border and drive an additional hour just to come to work. The money for gas and the time spent in line at a bridge there doesn’t work for them,” the restauranteur explained.
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