Her. Susan Collins
Susan Margaret Collins Media circles carts for conspiracy theorist Neera Tanden Why the ‘Never-Trumpers’ flopped Republicans see Becerra next target in confirmation wars (R-Maine) urged the Biden administration to reconsider an order on US-Canadian border restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In a Feb. 16 letter to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Alejandro Mayorkas
Alejandro MayorkasFlorida Republicans Push Biden to Execute Trump Order on Venezuela Hillicon Valley: Privacy, Immigrant Rights Groups Block ‘Smart Wall’ Proposal | New DHS Policy Focuses on Fighting Cyber ’Epidemic’ | Twitter exploration allowing users to charge for content The Memo: Biden faces first major setback as Teeth staggers MORECollins said she hoped they could work towards a “fair solution” for communities along the US-Canadian border that takes into account local risk levels.
Collins released publicly the letter on Thursday.
“As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, strict travel restrictions in land ports of entry between the United States and Canada have been in place for nearly a calendar year,” said Collins wrote
“While I appreciate the need to limit non-essential travel to the United States to prevent further spread of COVID-19, these restrictions should reflect localized levels of risk along our border and allow for certain exceptions to common sense, such as visits to close relatives or the daily local trade in areas with low COVID-19 transmissions, ”she continued.
The letter comes after DHS tweeted on Feb. 19 that the US, Canada and Mexico are extending the no-travel restrictions at their land borders until March 21, keeping the restrictions in place for exactly one year.
To protect our citizens and prevent the further spread of COVID-19, the United States, Canada and Mexico are extending restrictions on non-essential travel at our land borders until March 21. We are also working to ensure essential trade and travel remains Open.
– Homeland Security (@DHSgov) February 19, 2021
The restrictions were first agreed until last March, but have been extended repeatedly over the course of 2020 as the pandemic accelerated and continued.
Under current restrictions, Canadian citizens, dual Canadian citizens, and family members and partners may cross for non-essential purposes, The Associated Press reports