Washington,. – The president’s government Joe Biden extended until May 21 the restrictions of non-essential travel by the borders Mexico and Canada, as part of measures to address the pandemic of the COVID-19.
“The restrictions are temporary in nature and will remain in effect until May 21, midnight, unless terminated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS),” said a post on the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website.
Because of these measures, initiated in March 2020 by the board of the former president Donald TrumpOnly travelers or workers classified as “essential” may cross the border.
This category includes, according to DHS, US citizens and aliens who are legally resident and returning to the United States; travel for medical reasons, or to take classes in educational institutions and travel for work within the United States.
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It also includes travel for emergencies and public health matters, travel related to legal trade across borders, travel by government officials, and travel by members of the United States armed forces and their spouses and children.
With the extension announced, Democratic lawmaker Henry Cuéllar, Representative for Texas, expressed frustration that the Biden administration is not trying to open at least one gateway.
“I think they just don’t understand. I feel frustrated and disappointed with them,” Cuellar said on his Twitter account.
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Cuéllar and border community leaders claim travel restrictions are unfair because Mexican travelers arriving at airports can enter as long as they prove they are not carriers of the coronavirus.
On the other hand, travelers who want to cross the border or drive their vehicle, even if they only come to shop, are not allowed in, which is devastating to the local economy.
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Speaking to the Border Report platform, Cuéllar said he asked National Security Minister Alejandro Mayorkas how the government allows undocumented migrants to cross the southern border without proving whether they are carrying the coronavirus, but prevent access from people from Mexico. who have a visa and want to shop or visit family.
Before the pandemic, about 18 million Mexican citizens crossed the border every year and spent $ 19 billion in the United States, most of them in border regions.
Mexico confirms extension of restrictions
Monday has the Minister of Foreign Relations from Mexico confirmed the extension of travel restrictions with the edge of USA because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
On Twitter, the SRE stated that “Mexico’s restrictions on non-essential land crossings from the United States will continue until 11:59 pm on May 21, 2021 in the states in the north of the country that are orange and red according to the epidemiological risk semaphore of the United States. the government of Mexico “.
He added that both countries are “in talks to ease restrictions on border crossings based on the spread rates of # COVID19 on both sides of the border.”
The restrictions on non-essential land crossings will continue until 11:59 pm on May 21, 2021 in the states in the north of the country that are in color and according to the epidemiological risk traffic light of the @RTLnieuws.
– Foreign relations (@SRE_mx) April 20, 2021
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