How COVID-19 travel restrictions are hurting border towns

El Paso, Texas — About a mile from the Paso Del Norte International Bridge, which connects downtown El Paso to Mexico, Emilio Mendiola sorts neon snapbacks into bins labeled reading "Special $2.99 plus Tax," — and what was 90% of his business.

"I'm not kidding. It's that bad." The manager of "Mr. Hats" has let go of all but two of his full-time employees since the international bridges closed to noncitizens whose travel into the U.S. is deemed nonessential. The closure has shut down tourism, shopping and dining business from the neighboring Mexican city of Juárez that once fueled rows of El Paso's vendors -- and it has cost Mendiola 90% of his business. Over 10 million people cross the bridge into El Paso from Juárez every year.  On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security extended the travel restrictions until at least August 21.