San Antonio -- Most people don't realize just how bad things are getting in Mexico. But for some local business owners, the violence is real.
The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce tells News 4 WOAI they've seen an increase in the number of businesses coming to San Antonio from Mexico. So, out of the danger and violence across the border, emerges a positive for our city.
We've all seen the images or heard the stories about the violence in Mexico; the kidnappings, the shootings, the struggle for power by drug cartels.
"The robbery and the kidnapping and everything is like a business there. Now it's like a small business," Alicia Cendejas told us.
For people like Alicia, owner of Lisa's Mexican Restaurant, the violence hits close to home. She grew up in Mexico and still has family there.
"I'm always worried about them,” Alicia said. “I'm always calling them, at least once per week, trying to see how they're doing."
Alicia moved to San Antonio years ago to escape the violence and corruption. She also has a sister in the restaurant business who left for similar reasons.
Ivan Ramirez is an attorney here in San Antonio. His firm specializes in helping business owners like Alicia and her sister. His client list has increased in the last few months and it's all because of what's going on across the border.
"Yes, it's a gain for San Antonio but at a big cost to Mexico," commented Ramirez.
Ramirez told us he's recently helped construction and trucking companies, import-export businesses, and restaurants leave Mexico to come here.
"These are people that come with hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions of dollars. They come and invest,” Ramirez explained. “They open up businesses and create jobs. And they have to for their visa purposes."
Alicia doesn't expect the violence in Mexico to end any time soon. And while she worries for her family and friends across the border, she's happy to see our city prospering from something so ugly.
A representative for Hispanic Chamber of Commerce also told us San Antonio's stable economy, reasonable real estate pricing and short distance to the border is what makes the city so attractive. They also estimate more businesses will be coming over in the next few years.
