McAllen, Texas (Border Report) — To the “disappointment” of at least one South Texas congressman, travel restrictions between the United States, Mexico, and Canada will remain in place until May 21, according to the Biden administration.
Only those considered “key passengers” or employees are permitted to enter land ports. These are the same limits in effect since March 2020, when the Trump administration took office.
According to a notice posted late Monday on a US Customs and Border Protection website, “the prohibitions specified in the Notifications are temporary in nature and shall remain in place until 11:59 p.m. EDT on May 21, 2021 unless otherwise rescinded by the Department of Homeland Security.”
Mexican passengers who fly into U.S. ports are entitled to do so as long as they provide evidence that they are COVID-19-free, according to Cuellar and other border community representatives. Many attempting to walk or drive across land ports, perhaps to shop, are not permitted, according to local officials, and this is harming local economies.
According to DHS, essential travelers are those who are:
- U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents returning to the United States.
- Traveling for medical purposes.
- Traveling to attend educational institutions.
- Traveling to work in the United States.
- Traveling for emergency response and public health purposes, such as government officials or emergency responders entering the United States to support federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial government efforts to respond to COVID-19 or other emergencies.
- Engaged in lawful cross-border trade.
- Engaged in official government travel or diplomatic travel;
- Members of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the spouses and children of members of the U.S. Armed Forces, returning to the United States and those engaged in military-related travel or operations.
