The mayor of Laredo has confirmed the partial closure of the border and fears that "the economy will collapse"

Saenz stated that he spoke to officials of the Customs and Border Protection Bureau (CBP) and that They told him that they "were moving employees because a lane closure is being considered".

"They confirmed that it would not be a total, but partial closure," Saenz said during a phone interview., who said that although the government of President Donald Trump fulfills his threat of partially closing the border and blocking only a few lanes in border ports, the impact will also be felt.

The mayor said delays at border ports would be longer, which would cause delays in product delivery and increased costs for businesses and, in the worst case, he believes that Even the economy can collapse.

The president, who had already planned last week its intention to close the border before "inaction" of Mexico to stop the flow of migrants from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, complained that the Democrats gave the US "the weakest laws in the world for immigration".

Trump will travel next Friday to the Mexican border in Calcexico, California, where he plans to visit a new section of the fence on the dividing line. with the neighboring country and meet with the heads of local law enforcement agencies.

By the end of this week, the number of undocumented prisoners could also be known illegal border crossing in March, although immigration officials have already forecast that this figure could reach 100,000, compared with 50,000 to 60,000 on average monthly last year.

Although it is impossible to close the entire border, about 3,138 kilometers long, Trump could order the total or partial closure of the 47 points of entry into the country, for which more than a million people go through a day.

"They are going through difficult times, with the mere fact that they will announce that they will close the border which causes uncertainty, by Laredo they cross 15,000 trucks per day. It is one of the most intense borders and a key point for trade between the two countries, "said the mayor of this city.

Saenz said that trade between Mexico and the United States amounts to $ 1,700 million a day and represents 4% of the national economy.

"These are significant numbers, and that's why bridges should not close. We have companies that pbad their products every dayand interrupt this chain it would be an economic disasterhe badured.

Saenz's request adds to that of other political, economic and commercial actors who have warned of the consequences of the closure of the border with which Mr Trump has threatened in recent months, although he does not never did.

The US Chamber of Commerce said the measure would inflict "serious economic damage " and the League of United Citizens of Latin America (LULAC) warned that Trump would severely damage the border states – Texas, California, New Mexico and Arizona – without "deterring" Central American migrants.

(With EFE information)