U.S. To Reopen Land Borders To Fully Vaccinated Canadians
Saint John–Fully vaccinated Canadians will soon be able to drive across the border into the United States.
The Department of Homeland Security announced late Tuesday that the land border will reopen in November.
“Cross-border travel creates significant economic activity in our border communities and benefits our broader economy,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a news release.
“We are pleased to be taking steps to resume regular travel in a safe and sustainable manner.”
The U.S. land border has been closed to non-essential travel since March of 2020, although air travel has been allowed with certain conditions.
Canada reopened its land border to fully vaccinated U.S. travellers in August.
New York Congressman Brian Higgins announced the border reopening shortly before it was confirmed by Homeland Security. Higgins said for months he has heard from suffering businesses and families that were distraught over the separation imposed by the continued border shutdown.
“A robust cross-border exchange between the United States and Canada is fundamental to our binational relationship and mutually beneficial to our nations’ citizens, businesses and economies,” Higgins said in a statement.
“Strong vaccination rates in Canada made the continued border shutdown absurd and unjustifiable.”
No official date for the reopening has been announced as of yet.
Brad Perry is the news director with CHSJ/Country 94, Huddle content partners.