Baja California

Resilient shoppers

People from Tijuana wait up to four hours at the border crossing to buy their Christmas presents in San Diego

On any given day one indication of the impact Tijuana shoppers have on San Diego County businesses, particularly in South County, is how long the line is to cross into the United States.

And Thursday, the wait to cross by vehicle at the San Ysidro border crossing was more than two hours long. But that was nothing compared to the wait in the pedestrian lane, which at midday lasted around four hours. The line was so long it snaked under a nearby bridge and doubled up. People just arriving to cross the border walked around and around just to find the end of it.

"I've been crossing 30 years, almost every day, and I've never seen anything like this," said Roberto Beltran, shaking his head. He repeated that phrase out loud many times during the four hours it took him to cross, around 1:40 p.m.

The 55-year-ol Tijuana resident, like many waiting in line, was heading north to shop. He said that over the years he had worked in San Diego County in various jobs, but now had his own small businesses in Tijuana. A jovial man, he struck up conversations with all around him, recited poetry, and more than once said out loud: "Even girls with a few extra pounds will lose weight today!"

Elvira Rosas also endured four hours to cross. The Tijuana office worker said she prefers to buy such items as toilet paper and other basics in San Ysidro. And she was also going to look for some gifts. She struck up a conversation with Norma González, 26 who lives in Tijuana and works at a La Jolla hotel.

González said she crosses the border daily around 5 a.m., when there's no wait at the pedestrian lane. That's why she has never gotten the SENTRI pass, a permit issued by U.S. authorities that allows frequent crossers who have been screened to use special, express vehicle and pedestrian lanes.

González wanted to buy some last-minute toys for her four children. She planned to take

check out the nearby San Ysidro swap meet once she got across, "whenever that is," she said softly,

two hours into what eventually would be a four-hour wait.

While precise figures are hard to get, it is estimated that Tijuana shoppers spend $6 billion annually in San Diego County stores.

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