Mexican protesters have shut a US southern border crossing amid fears that untested American travellers will spread coronavirus.
Residents in Sonora, south of the US state of Arizona, have promised to block traffic into Mexico for a second day after closing a checkpoint for hours on Wednesday.
They wore face masks and held signs telling Americans to “stay at home”.
Mexico has fewer than 500 confirmed Covid-19 cases and the US over 65,000.
The border is supposed to be closed to all except “essential” business, but protesters said there has been little enforcement and no testing by authorities.
The blockade was led by members of the group Sonorans for Health and Life, who called for medical testing to be done on anyone who crosses from the US into Mexico.
Raman overtakes Spencer Pratt in razor-thin race, AP count shows, but race remains uncalled
Spencer Pratt falls behind Nithya Raman in LA mayoral race after latest vote update
Video captures fireworks exploding from burning trailer that shut down Interstate 75
Multiple people stabbed near Penn Station, leaving one seriously injured as investigation continues
US Forces Shoot Down Iranian Missiles Targeting Gulf Neighbors
Erika Kirk Shows Incredible Poise, Class After Heckler Screams Vile Insult
Trump Makes Large Investment in Specialty Restaurant Chain
Fast Food Manager Arrested for Disgusting Action Toward Customer’s Food
At 82, Marilyn Burns is still defining the American small business dream
Finland’s NATO nerves: A country on Russia’s doorstep wonders about the alliance’s future
Australia Has Launched $1.4B Lawsuit Against 3M Citing “Forever Chemicals”
Spencer Pratt’s runner-up edge over Democrat Raman down to 1%, few thousand ballots
‘Don’t let me be the guy that’s not funny anymore’: Jeff Foxworthy opens up on his possibly final special
The World Is Learning Faster Than Ever: The Bible Said It Would
Unease and hostility meets defiant support as Maine residents grapple with Graham Platner allegations
Jose Luis Hernandez, a group member, told the Arizona Republic: “There are no health screenings by the federal government to deal with this pandemic. That’s why we’re here in Nogales. We’ve taken this action to call on the Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to act now.”
The Mexican president has been criticised for his response to the pandemic, as has US President Donald Trump.
Mr Hernandez said the Wednesday demonstrations were a “first warning” to Mr Lopez Obrador, popularly known by his initials, Amlo.
The group has called for enforcement of the crossing ban on all US or Mexican citizens for tourism or medical reasons, including those who cross the border every day to attend school or work in the US.
Authorities must also conduct medical testing on Mexicans deported from the US, they said.
Raman overtakes Spencer Pratt in razor-thin race, AP count shows, but race remains uncalled
Spencer Pratt falls behind Nithya Raman in LA mayoral race after latest vote update
Video captures fireworks exploding from burning trailer that shut down Interstate 75
Multiple people stabbed near Penn Station, leaving one seriously injured as investigation continues
US Forces Shoot Down Iranian Missiles Targeting Gulf Neighbors
Erika Kirk Shows Incredible Poise, Class After Heckler Screams Vile Insult
Trump Makes Large Investment in Specialty Restaurant Chain
Fast Food Manager Arrested for Disgusting Action Toward Customer’s Food
At 82, Marilyn Burns is still defining the American small business dream
Finland’s NATO nerves: A country on Russia’s doorstep wonders about the alliance’s future
Australia Has Launched $1.4B Lawsuit Against 3M Citing “Forever Chemicals”
Spencer Pratt’s runner-up edge over Democrat Raman down to 1%, few thousand ballots
‘Don’t let me be the guy that’s not funny anymore’: Jeff Foxworthy opens up on his possibly final special
The World Is Learning Faster Than Ever: The Bible Said It Would
Unease and hostility meets defiant support as Maine residents grapple with Graham Platner allegations
The group have vowed to block the DeConcini checkpoint again after shutting it down on Wednesday afternoon.
President Trump has made cutting the number of people crossing the border from Mexico into the US a centrepiece of his administration. He blames border-crossers from the south for bringing economic and social problems into the US.
He announced last week that the frontier was to close due to coronavirus.
Story cited here.
