EL PASO, Texas -- Economist warn that thousands of jobs could be lost if the top three U.S. automakers go under.

The Big Three U.S. automakers, Chrysler, Ford and General Motors, claim they need money. But here in the borderland, some people KFOX talked to are not buying that story.

"I think that's a lie. They're not broke. What they do is, they just want to make, some more business," said Jose Rios of Downtown El Paso.

While some don't want to fork over the money to auto companies, they believe at this point it's inevitable--- but everyone must do their part.

"I think the auto workers should take a pay cut until things turn around and then maybe they can get back to living their lives the way they want to," Robert Martinez of West El Paso.

In the worst case scenario, if the Big Three auto companies were to go under then it could mean up to 50,000 - 55,000 jobs lost in Ciudad Juarez at companies that make auto parts, including the Delphi and Lear companies. Job loss at those companies could mean up to 1,000 jobs lost for workers in El Paso who work in Juarez, said Dr. Tom Fullerton, an economic professor at University of Texas El Paso.

"There's a lot of transportation warehousing, management and supply jobs that are dependent upon those automotive parts factories," said Fullerton, who believes in the long haul it could mean more than 100,000 jobs lost in Juarez in total, because of the other jobs that are tied to the auto industry.

Fullerton also said border retailers could see a slowdown in sales, because the job loss could cut into the amount of people that come here to El Paso to spend money.

Martinez said the real solution to economic problem will come from faith.

"We're all in a tight economic time, where we need to pray to God,” Martinez said. “We have a newly elected president. We all have to support him that he will pray and lead this country in fear of God."