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LAREDO, Texas - U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar is predicting a great Christmas for border communities now that land ports of entry are being re-opened to tens of thousands of Mexican visa holders.\\xa0

Mexican nationals who do not work in so-called \\u201cessential\\u201d industries have been prevented from crossing via land ports into the United States since March 20 due to the coronavirus pandemic.\\xa0

Now, however, the international bridges between the U.S. and Mexico and the U.S. and Canada will be open to \\u201cnon-essential\\u201d travelers from Nov. 8, provided they can prove they have been fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the World Health Organization. This decision was announced by U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas last week.

\\u201cWhether it is downtown Laredo or downtown in any part of the border, this basically means that they will get their shoppers back. Which means this will be a very good Christmas,\\u201d Cuellar said.

Cuellar, D-Laredo, made his remarks in a webinar he hosted immediately following DHS\\u2019s reopening the bridges announcement.

\\u201cFirst of all, I got a call from the White House last night. I got a call from the secretary of homeland security, Mayorkas, early this morning. I have a call with the acting commissioner, Troy Miller, about some of the details. But I can tell you the details are being worked out right now,\\u201d Cuellar said in his introduction to the webinar.

Troy Miller is the acting commissioner for Customs and Border Protection.\\xa0

Cuellar said there are two aspects to the DHS decision or reopening the bridges. The first impacts so-called non-essential travelers from Mexico.

\\u201cIf they have proof of the (Covid-19) vaccine they will be able to come into the United States. That means tourism, family members can see their family members or come shop. That will open up,\\u201d Cuellar said.

The second aspect of the new ruling kicks in in January, Cuellar said.\\xa0

\\u201cAnybody coming in to the U.S., any foreigner, which means, of course, Canadians, but for us, Mexicans, essential and non-essential, will have to show proof of (Covid-19) vaccines,\\u201d Cuellar said.\\xa0

Cuellar said the DHS decision is a huge boost for border communities.

\\u201cWhat does this mean for us? It means (good news) on two fronts, economics and family. Before the pandemic we were getting 18 million Mexicans that would come in and spend $19 billion.\\u201d

Editor's Note: To read the full story go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service website.\\xa0

Editor's Note: The attached podcast includes comments made during the webinar by Congressman Henry Cuellar, Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz, Rio Grande City public relations specialist Angelina Villarreal, and Starr-Camargo International Bridge owner Sam Vale.\\xa0

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.