First modification: 19/03/2021 – 02:06
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Mexico (AFP)
The government of Mexico will restrict non-essential land transit on its northern and southern borders as of this Friday to contain the spread of covid-19, the Mexican Foreign Ministry reported on Thursday.
“To prevent the spread of covid-19, it will impose as of March 19 (…) restrictions on land traffic for non-essential activities on its northern and southern borders,” the Foreign Ministry said in a message on Twitter.
The agency indicated that the government “will deploy sanitary control measures in the north and south of the country” and that the restrictions will be in effect until April 21.
The limitations were implemented since March 21, 2020 due to the covid-19 pandemic that in Mexico leaves 195,908 deaths and 2.1 million infections, according to official figures.
Since that date, the two countries have closed the border of more than 3,000 km to non-essential land traffic, such as tourists or occasional visitors, but it allows the passage of goods, workers or students.
For the first time since the health emergency began, Mexico announced this type of limitation with Guatemala, whose border has been monitored since 2019 by elements of the National Guard to stop the caravans of migrants seeking to reach the United States.
The restrictions announced by the Mexican government also coincide with an increase in the arrival of migrants to the United States, mainly Central Americans, fleeing violence and poverty in their countries.
Those caravans began to be blocked in 2020 by security forces, both in southern Mexico and in Guatemala.
The government of US President Joe Biden, however, expects the arrival of migrants to the border with Mexico to reach a maximum in 20 years, amid the difficulties in welcoming minors traveling alone.
In February alone, 100,000 people who tried to enter the country were arrested.
The growing problem this week forced Biden to ask migrants directly to “not come,” during an interview with ABC News.
© 2021 AFP
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