The United States will reopen its borders land to non-essential travel next month, ending a 19-month shutdown by the COVID pandemic, as the country takes steps to require all international visitors to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.
The President’s Administration Joe Biden had closed the borders for certain types of trips between Mexico, Canada and the United States due to the risk of spreading the virus.
With the restrictions, travel by car, train or ferry between the United States and its neighbors, Mexico and Canada, had been restricted to essential transfers, such as commercial activities, since the early days of the pandemic.
The new rules, to be announced on Wednesday, will allow foreigners with a full vaccination scheme to enter the United States regardless of the reason for the trip as of early November, when a similar measure is implemented for arrivals by air to the country. By mid-January, even travelers in essential activities, such as truck drivers, who intend to enter the United States, will have to be fully vaccinated.
Senior government officials gave a preview of the new measure Tuesday on condition of anonymity in order to discuss the issue before the formal announcement.
So much Mexico and Canada have lobbied for months to the United States to ease travel restrictions that have separated families and limited leisure travel since the beginning of the pandemic. The latest move comes weeks after the announcement that the United States will end restrictions on air travel from some countries, and will instead require proof of vaccination for foreigners attempting to arrive by plane.
Both measures They will come into force at the beginning of Novemberindicated the officials, who did not specify a particular date.
The new rules will only apply to legal income to the United States. Officials warned that those who attempt to arrive irregularly will remain subject to removal under the so-called Title 42 authority, which was initially invoked by former President Donald Trump, and which has been criticized by immigration activists for expelling migrants immediately before they can apply for asylum. One of the officials noted that the United States will maintain the measure because overcrowded conditions at Border Patrol facilities pose a risk of COVID outbreaks.
According to authorities, travelers entering the United States by car, train or ferry will be asked about their vaccination status as part of the standard admission process for Customs and Border Protection (CBP). At the discretion of the agentsTravelers will have to show proof of vaccination, which would be verified in a secondary filter.
Unlike air travel, for which evidence of a negative COVID-19 diagnostic test is required before boarding a flight to enter the United States, a diagnostic test will not be required to reach the country by land or air, as long as the travelers comply with the vaccination requirement.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The United States will accept travelersis that they have a complete vaccination scheme with any of the vaccines approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization, not just those approved for use in the United States. That means the AstraZeneca vaccine, widely used in Canada, will be accepted.
Officials noted that the CDC is still working to formalize admission procedures for those who received doses of two different vaccines, something quite common in Canada.
The delay in the vaccination requirement for essential cross-border shipments is intended to give truckers and others involved additional time to get vaccinated and minimize the possibility of hampering economic activity by the vaccination requirement, officials said.
Mexico has not implemented no entry procedure for travelers during the pandemic. Canada allows the entry of people with evidence of a complete vaccination scheme against COVID-19, as well as evidence of a diagnostic test with a negative result carried out 72 hours before their arrival in the country.
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