Collins urges Biden to review Canada-U.S. Border border order

His. Susan collinsSusan Margaret Collins Media surrounds wagons for conspiracy theorist Neera Tanden Why flopped Republicans from ‘Never-Trumpers’ see Becerra as next target in Confirmation Wars MORE (R-Maine) urged the Biden administration to reconsider a Canada-U.S. Border restriction order amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In a February 16 letter to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Alejandro mayorkasAlejandro MayorkasFlorida Republicans Push Biden to Implement Trump’s Venezuela Ordinance Hillicon Valley: Privacy and Immigrant Rights Groups Criticize ‘Smart Wall’ Proposal | New DHS policies aim to tackle cyber ‘epidemic’ | Twitter explores allowing users to charge for content The Memo: Biden faces first major setback as Tanden rocks READ MORECollins said she hoped they could work towards a “fair solution” for communities along the Canada-U.S. Border that takes localized levels of risk into account.

Collins published publicly Thursday’s letter.

“Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, strict travel restrictions at land ports of entry between the United States and Canada have been in effect for almost a calendar year,” Collins said wrote.

“While I appreciate the need to limit non-essential travel to the United States in order to prevent further spread of COVID-19, these restrictions should reflect the levels of risk located along our border and allow for some good exceptions. meaning, such as visits between close relatives or daily local businesses in areas with low transmission of COVID-19, ”she continued.

The letter comes after DHS tweeted on February 19 that the United States, Canada and Mexico extend restrictions on non-essential travel at their land borders until March 21, which would keep the restrictions in place for exactly one year.

To protect our citizens and prevent the spread of COVID-19, the United States, Canada and Mexico are extending restrictions on non-essential travel at our land borders until March 21. open.

– Homeland security (@DHSgov) February 19, 2021

The restrictions were first agreed to last March, but were extended several times during 2020 as the pandemic accelerated and persisted.

Under current restrictions, Canadian citizens, Americans with dual citizenship, and family members and partners can cross for non-essential purposes, The Associated Press reported.