The Governor of Sonora and Chancellor Ebrard agree to install checkpoints along the border to prevent non-essential crossing from the U.S. to Sonora

Hermosillo, Sonora, July 1^st, 2020. To strengthen their prevention strategies amid the current health emergency caused by Covid-19, Gov. Claudia Pavlovich Arellano announced that after the weekend, they will kickstart an operation, with checkpoint along the border, to decrease non-essential crossing from the U.S. to Sonora.

The State leader pointed out that, amid the current spike in cases in Arizona, as well as the major U.S. holiday coming up on July 4^th, she requested Chancellor Marcelo Ebrard, Secretary of Foreign Relation, to support her in making the closure effective for non-essential travelers. The National Institute of Migration or (INM) will coordinate with the State’s Government to install these filters along border crossings.

“There will be border filters in San Luis Rio Colorado, as well as in Nogales and Agua Prieta, more specifically on the borders, to warn travelers that they may not cross from the U.S to Mexico unless they have essential reasons to; not only to our beach tourists, but to the mountainside tourists as well, We will all be on alert at the moment, trying to prevent their visit, they being co-nationals, north Americans, or any other person that tries to visit this weekend, and become a major public charge on the Covid-19 matter” Said Claudia Pavlovich.

The Governor also requested the Chancellor’ support in making sure the Mexican embassies and consulates in Arizona inform the people about this closure for non-essential travelers, avoiding the traveling to border crossings, being that access to the Mexican country will only be granted to those with essential reasons to cross like work, commercial crossings, and health related reasons.

The governor reiterated that essential activities related to commerce exchange, work activities, and medical services remain authorized for crossing to both sides of the border. 

The State leader also announced that another action done by her administration will be the closure of beaches, and navigation. 

“Careful, its not just a filter on the border, its also a filter on the beaches, on any county the wish to travel to, or if they want to visit someone on the mountainside region in the Sonoran River towns, regardless, we know the places our co-nationals or north Americans normally travel to” She claimed.

On each of the filters installed on the U.S. border, detailed the governor, we will count with the presence of Staff from the Health Sector, the National Institute of Migration, and Security elements from all levels of the government.