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.
WATCH: House Democrat gets unexpected response when he asks constituents about voter ID requirements
DHS preps deportation of alleged MS-13 gang member wanted for pastor’s murder in El Salvador
Trump’s $1 billion presidential library expected to dwarf all predecessors
‘Local independent’ outlet in Virginia pushing redistricting is owned by Democratic operatives
VP Vance to meet with Viktor Orbán in Hungary days ahead of foreign nation’s elections
Celebrity chef lashes out at Trump for changing the ‘rules’ the same year as America 250
Colorado House advances conversion therapy lawsuit bill; GOP lawmaker calls it ‘slap in the face’ to SCOTUS
Artemis II crew describes life aboard Orion spacecraft on historic journey to the moon and back
Erika Kirk and Karoline Leavitt talk free thinking and faith at TPUSA college tour kickoff
Karoline Leavitt reveals ‘anti-climatic’ way Trump told her she’d be press secretary: ‘Oh, by the way’
Trump slaps up to 100% tariff on some brand-name drug imports in major America First push
Two arrested in NC after police find 13-year-old kept in dog kennel, 5 other kids in ‘filthy’ home
Heart-pounding video shows fisherman leaping into ocean to save great white shark
Pete Hegseth signs memo opening door for troops to carry personal firearms on bases
Illegal migrant babysitter accused in 5-year-old attack now faces major charges
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.
WATCH: House Democrat gets unexpected response when he asks constituents about voter ID requirements
DHS preps deportation of alleged MS-13 gang member wanted for pastor’s murder in El Salvador
Trump’s $1 billion presidential library expected to dwarf all predecessors
‘Local independent’ outlet in Virginia pushing redistricting is owned by Democratic operatives
VP Vance to meet with Viktor Orbán in Hungary days ahead of foreign nation’s elections
Celebrity chef lashes out at Trump for changing the ‘rules’ the same year as America 250
Colorado House advances conversion therapy lawsuit bill; GOP lawmaker calls it ‘slap in the face’ to SCOTUS
Artemis II crew describes life aboard Orion spacecraft on historic journey to the moon and back
Erika Kirk and Karoline Leavitt talk free thinking and faith at TPUSA college tour kickoff
Karoline Leavitt reveals ‘anti-climatic’ way Trump told her she’d be press secretary: ‘Oh, by the way’
Trump slaps up to 100% tariff on some brand-name drug imports in major America First push
Two arrested in NC after police find 13-year-old kept in dog kennel, 5 other kids in ‘filthy’ home
Heart-pounding video shows fisherman leaping into ocean to save great white shark
Pete Hegseth signs memo opening door for troops to carry personal firearms on bases
Illegal migrant babysitter accused in 5-year-old attack now faces major charges
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.
