Angela Kocherga

New requirements and much higher fees for visitor visas don't seem to be stopping travelers from Mexico.

According to federal data, arrivals by air are up slightly.

and entry by cars grew by more than 13 percent this year.

Texas and other border states depend on those visitors.

At the outlet shops of El Paso, 65 percent of shoppers on weekends are from Mexico, says Gina Selecta, director of marketing for this mall and another one on the border in Laredo.

Along with shopping, visitors from Mexico spend money on shows in Las Vegas and amusement parks.

For NPR News, I'm Angela Cocherga in El Paso.

From member station KTEP, Angela Kocherga has more.

New requirements and much higher fees for visitor visas don't seem to be stopping travelers from Mexico.

According to federal data, arrivals by air are up slightly, and entry by car has grew by more than 13% this year.

Texas and other border states depend on those visitors.

At the outlet shops of El Paso, 65% of shoppers on weekends are from Mexico, says Gina Selecta, director of marketing for this mall and another one on the border in Laredo.

Along with shopping, visitors from Mexico spend money on shows in Las Vegas and amusement parks.

For NPR News, I'm Angela Kocherga in El Paso.