Lambda Legal West Coast Liberty Awards 2018
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JUNE 07: Assemblymember Todd Gloria speaks at the Lambda Legal 2018 West Coast Liberty Awards at the SLS Hotel on June 7, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. Photo by Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Lambda Legal

After the tour of San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria in the San Diego County-sponsored vaccination superstation Thursday, alongside other local officials, they urged the federal government for the reopening of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Decision Justified by Vaccination Rates

The tour at the San Ysidro Port of Entry prompted officials to request a border reopening to the federal government. Local officials mentioned that for 15 months there had been no hustle-bustle in San Ysidro.

According to 10News San Diego, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria emphasized after the tour that it is critical for the economy. Gloria also added that if the request would be granted by the federal government, the decision would be justified since vaccination rates increase and infection rates fall.

Moreover, Mayor Gloria stated that vaccinations happen every day at tents at the port of entry. The San Diego mayor also pointed out that aside from the one million doses donated by the federal government, San Diego County has partnered with the Mexican Consulate and UCSD Healthcare which resulted in more than 200,000 shots at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in the last few months.

South Bay elected officials including Imperial Beach Mayor Serge Dedina, and National City Mayor Alejandra Sotelo-Solis, and Vargas pleaded with the federal government to let them reopen, CBS 8 reported.

Mayor Dedina said that they need to show everything that they could for the U.S. government officials at the White House to notice them. Dedina also added that what they were doing was a team effort.

In addition, local officials said that they were doing everything in their power to move the needle in the right direction. They mentioned that what they need now is more guidance from the federal government for their plans to happen.

Mayor Gloria that the federal government needs to inform the public regarding what levels of vaccination rate both sides of the border need to meet the reopening condition. Gloria stated that if they would have it it would be helpful especially for small businesses.

Businesses Hanging to Survive

The closure to non-essential travel is set to expire on July 21, but the federal government has extended the closure several times since the pandemic started.

On the other hand, cellphone shop owner Omar Trujillo said he was 60% down. He also said that he was hanging on to survive in the middle of the pandemic. Trujillo also said that he was devastated after DHS decided to postpone the reopening of the border.

San Diego County Supervisor Nora Vargas stated that retail sales were down $200 million, which is a 72% loss for the region.

Trujillo said that for him to survive, he needed to open his shop, but he said that he continuously wears a mask in case his customers from across the border were not vaccinated. Trujillo also said that for the U.S. to open the border, the federal government needs to help Mexico, especially those who are living near the border.

WATCH: Local officials push to reopen US-Mexico border- ABC10 News