Letter to Asa Hutchinson, Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security - US-VISIT Program

Letter

Dear Secretary Hutchinson:

As you know, communities along the US/Mexico border remain concerned about the effect that implementation of US-VISIT will have on their local economies. In a meeting today in McAllen, Texas with Mr. P.T. Wright, Executive Director, CBP/US-VISIT, particular concerns were raised about the impact of putting in place new entry rules in the middle of the biggest shopping season. Mexico has religious holidays that extend the Christmas shopping season well into January.

Although the Department plans to implement an educational outreach program to provide Mexican citizens with information on the new rules and procedures, word is still not getting out and I believe that U.S. retailers have legitimate fears that retail sales will be adversely affected this holiday season.

In this regard, I am requesting that enforcement of the new system be delayed until at least January 18. This will give the Department more time for the dissemination of its educational information on US-VISIT and will avoid disruption of the holiday shopping season. Holiday shoppers from Mexico provide a large bulk of the annual receipts for local retailers all along the U.S.-Mexico border.

As always, thank you for considering these concerns on a matter that is so significant for the Rio Grande Valley and the entire border economy.

Sincerely,

Rubén Hinojosa
Member of Congress

cc: Mr. Jim Williams, US-VISIT Director
Mr. P.T. Wright, CBP/US-VISIT Executive Director

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