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-Editorial
In a letter sent by the City of Mexicali to Calexico Mayor Bill Hodge on June 30, he was informed that the checkpoints will start on Thursday at 2:00 p.m., and will end on Sunday at 8:00 p.m.
Mexicali officials will be enforcing several things such as face-covering use if the person is showing COVID symptoms, that the visit is for an essential purpose only, if they are bringing alcohol, and will only allow two people per vehicle. The checkpoints will be installed in the Calexico East and West Port and also at Algodones.
The checkpoint that began operating last weekend caused a lot of traffic problems in Calexico by increasing congestion on all the streets. Some people reported that it took them seven hours to cross to Mexicali, others ran out of gas due to the unexpected wait times and inefficient search process, as well as some traffic accidents. Most users, who are regular border users, have complained about such wait times.
The long lines were reported to end up to Jasper Road causing anger and desperation among drivers. The Calexico East Port of Entry closes at 2 p.m. every day. The closure of the Calexico East is due to the border restrictions that are now in place due to COVID-19.
Mexicali has established even stricter rules to combat COVID-19 and to slow down mobility among its residents. Mexicali is ranked as one of the cities with most cases of COVID-19 in all of Mexico.
Municipal authorities are also making sure alcoholic beverages are not crossed since the city is limiting the sale of beer to discourage family gatherings that could trigger an increase in new cases.