U.S. To Lift Canada, Mexico Land Border Restrictions In November For Vaccinated Visitors

The opening of the Canadian border is great news for the RV industry and the many Canadian RVers who visit the United States each year. The decision by the Biden Administration to open the Canadian border follows sustained pressure from the Northern Border Caucus and others noting the economic and familial strains caused by the continued restrictions at the U.S.-Canada border. Members of the RV Caucus, including Senator Angus King (I-ME), Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), and Congressman Tom Emmer (R-MI-6), were integral in the efforts to reopen the border.

Additionally, the RV Industry Association Federal Affairs team discussed our priorities with key stakeholders including the Canadian American Business Council. The Department of Homeland Security, Canadian authorities, and the Council of State Governments were receptive to RV industry border crossing concerns which contributed to helping safely lift the restrictions.

The United States will lift restrictions at its land borders with Canada and Mexico for fully vaccinated foreign nationals in early November, ending historic curbs on non-essential travelers in place since March 2020 to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement the administration next month "will begin allowing travelers from Mexico and Canada who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to enter the United States for non-essential purposes, including to visit friends and family or for tourism, via land and ferry border crossings."

The new rules are similar but not identical to planned requirements announced last month for international air travelers, U.S. officials said in a call earlier with reporters.

Lawmakers from U.S border states praised the move to lift the unprecedented restrictions which harmed the economies of local communities and has prevented visits to friends and families for 19 months.

"Since the beginning of the pandemic, members of our shared cross-border community have felt the pain and economic hardship of the land border closures. That pain is about to end," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement.

Unvaccinated visitors will still be barred from entering the United States from Canada or Mexico at land borders.

The officials from President Joe Biden's administration emphasized that the White House would not lift the "Title 42" order put in place by former President Donald Trump's administration that has essentially cut off access to asylum for hundreds of thousands of migrants seeking to enter from Mexico.

The precise date in early November when the restrictions will be lifted on both land and air travel will be announced "very soon," one of the officials said.

Read the full article from Reuters here.