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The U.S Senator Kamala Harris condemned President Donald Trump’s threat to shut down the U.S-Mexico border over the weekend. She warned that such a reckless move could cost businesses millions. Harris tweeted, “Closing the border to score political points is reckless and would cost American businesses along the border millions of dollars. We know because it happened last year, and that five-hour closure cost California’s San Ysidro more than $5 million”. She referred to November’s temporary shutdown under the Trump administration. The warning of Harris came after Trump said that he may shut down the southern border in response to a surge in asylum seekers.

Trump also ordered the suspension of aid payments to Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. He blamed of failing to do enough to curb migration to the United States. The threat from the U.S leader to shut down U.S ports of entry has prompted fears among businesses based along the border. One of the restaurant owners informed Fox 5 that he believes such a shutdown would force some businesses to close. A member of the San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce, Edgar Alaniz said, “We’re talking about millions and millions of dollars completely lost if the border closes. And people won’t be able to get to work”.

It is reflecting on how November’s closure of the San Ysidro port of entry experience a $5.3 million hit to the economy. Alaniz said that there were at least 600 businesses in the area within 2 miles north of the border that could experience their operations affected once again. The restaurant owner also pointed out that a large share of its employees also lives in Tijuana. It means that many workers will not be able to to get to their jobs if the U.S-Mexico border was shut down. Trump claimed on Friday that closing the border would be a profit-making operation. He also referred to the trade deficit of the United States with Mexico. The deputy director of the Mexico Institute of Wilson Center, Christopher Wilson warned that closing the border will be an economic disaster for the U.S.