Despite Some Rises, Car And Pedestrian Crossings At Arizona Ports Of Entry Still Well Below Prior Years

By Murphy Woodhouse
Published: Saturday, September 5, 2020 - 4:27pm
Updated: Sunday, September 6, 2020 - 9:02am

Border Wait Nogales
Murphy Woodhouse/KJZZ
Motorists wait to cross at the Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Sonora, in February 2019. Since the U.S. implemented restrictions at the border on March, 20, 2020, fewer people have been crossing.

Since reaching low points in April, vehicle and pedestrian crossings at Arizona ports of entry have risen, but are still well below past years. 

After border restrictions went into effect in late March in an attempt to slow coronavirus spread, the number of personal vehicles and people crossing plummeted roughly 60% and 70% respectively between February and April. But through July, car crossings have risen more than 50%, with more modest increases in pedestrian traffic, according to the most recently available federal data

Pedestrian and car crossings in July remain well below five-year July averages at all of Arizona’s ports of entry. In Nogales, one of the most important ports, pedestrian crossings in July were down nearly 80% from the five-year average there. Commercial truck crossings are up at all but the Douglas Port of Entry, where they were down slightly from the average. 

Restrictions on nonessential crossings have been renewed monthly since March, and were extended to Sept. 21 last month. 

Fronteras Sonora