A new report by the New American Economy lists McAllen as one of the leading areas in the country for immigrants to start a business.
The report states that immigrants are more than twice as likely to be entrepreneurs in the McAllen area.
The report relies on 2019 data from the American Community Survey, and doesn’t specify whether the immigrants mentioned are legally in the U.S. or undocumented.
Due to the border only being open for essential travel into the U.S. The downtown area in McAllen can still feel the toll from the lack of business.
Migrant business owners say they’re not surprised by the numbers from the report, but say that the pandemic has changed everything. With sales often at a standstill, they hope one day visitors from the other side of the border may be able to one day come back.
