Categories: International

US To Reopen Land Borders With Mexico To Vaccinated Travellers

The US will reopen the country’s land borders with Mexico and Canada in November to travellers fully vaccinated against COVID-19, lifting the pandemic restrictions on nonessential travel after more than 19 months.

The travel restrictions began in March 2020 and cut off people who wanted to shop or visit family in the US — which hurt businesses in border cities that depend on Mexican shoppers.

The federal government’s announcement late Tuesday said that starting in January, people traveling for essential purposes — such as students, commercial drivers, US citizens and health care workers — will have to start showing proof of vaccination as well.

“Cross-border travel creates significant economic activity in our border communities and benefits our broader economy,” US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement. “We are pleased to be taking steps to resume regular travel in a safe and sustainable manner.”

Businesses and elected officials along the border welcomed the news, saying it will help businesses bounce back after being hit hard by the pandemic and travel restrictions.

For more than a year, many border residents and officials have asked the Trump and Biden administrations to reopen the ports of entry to tourists.

US Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, called the move “long overdue.”

“Finally, the residents of the El Paso-Ciudad Juárez region will be able to safely reconnect with their loved ones and revive our vibrant border economy,” Escobar tweeted late Tuesday.

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Yinka Akanbi

Yinka is an aesthete and a cosmopolite.