The U.S.-Canada border has been closed to all non-essential travel to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As will the U.S.-Mexico border. For both shared boundaries, both countries have agreed that the border will remain closed to non-essential travel (no recreational visits) at least until July 21, 2020. However, these two borders still remains open to commercial traffic and essential workers who cross the border for work.
Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Wolf issued a statement, which includes: “Based on the success of the existing restrictions and the emergence of additional global COVID-19 hotspots, the Department will continue to limit non-essential travel at our land ports of entry with Canada and Mexico…The Department of Homeland Security is in close contact with our Canadian and Mexican counterparts regarding this extension, and they agree on the need to extend their non-essential travel restrictions as well.” Read the statement in full.
Essential travel includes, but is not limited to:
- individuals traveling for medical purposes
- individuals traveling to attend educational institutions
- individuals traveling to work in the United States
- individuals traveling for emergency response and public health purposes
- individuals engaged in lawful cross-border trade
- individuals 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
View the original notifications of travel restrictions for each border on the DHS website. Officials have stated that these measures will continue to be reviewed 30 days out.