Travel ban to Canada extended for fully vaccinated Americans

The Department of Homeland Security on Thursday extended its travel restrictions between the United States and Canada until August 21 – following the announcement by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that the border would reopen to fully vaccinated Americans on August 9.

“In light of the epidemic and the continued transmission and spread of COVID-19 in the United States and around the world, the Secretary has determined that the risk of continued transmission and spread of the virus associated with COVID-19 between the United States and Canada pose a “specific threat to human life or national interests,” according to the notification published in the Federal Register.

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in the announcement that the extended restrictions are “temporary” and will remain in effect until 11.59pm on August 21.

The border has been closed to all non-essential travel since the first outbreak of COVID-19 in March 2020.

Trudeau’s announcement – just three days ago – of the reopening of the border was welcomed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who on Monday called it “an important step in the restoration of our state and of our nation ”.

Canada planned to reopen its borders to the rest of the world on September 7.

Representative Brian Higgins (D-NY), whose western New York district includes Buffalo and Niagara Falls, issued a statement lamenting the DHS decision. Higgins has made his voice heard in his efforts to reopen the border.

“For months now, people and businesses along the border have been straining month after month in hopes of the border reopening. Today’s decision by the Biden administration hurts economic recovery and harms families across the northern US border; it’s completely unnecessary, ”Higgins said in a press release Wednesday.

“While the United States does nothing, loved ones remain separate and communities whose economies depend on cross-border trade continue to suffer economically,” Higgins said.

“Continuing this shutdown is illogical given the success of vaccines and counterproductive, putting the United States at a disadvantage given Canada’s decision to re-welcome vaccinated Americans effective August 9.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said the United States “is not reciprocating” Canada’s efforts to reopen the border.

“As Canada prepares to open the border further next month, the United States is failing to reciprocate, jeopardizing an already tenuous recovery for thousands of businesses, families and communities in the upstate of New York, “he said in a statement Wednesday.

“It is essential that the United States level the playing field and create a uniform system, following science and data, to safely reopen – and finally – the border for those vaccinated…”