Washington, .— The government of president Joe Biden extended until May 21 the restrictions of non-essential travel by the borders with Mexico and Canada, As part of measures to contain the pandemic Covid-19.
“The restrictions are temporary in nature and will remain in effect until midnight on May 21 unless the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) terminates them,” a notice posted Monday’s website said. the office of Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Because of these measures, initiated in March 2020 by the former President’s Executive Donald Trump, Only the crossing of borders of travelers or workers qualified as “essential” is allowed.
This category includes, according to DHS, U.S. and foreign citizens who are legal residents and return to the United States; travel for medical reasons, or to attend class at educational institutions, and business travel within the United States.
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It also includes travel for emergencies and public health matters, those related to legal trade across the border, travel for government officials, and those of members of the United States Armed Forces and their spouses and children.
Knowing the extension, Democratic lawmaker Henry Cuéllar, representing Texas, expressed frustration that the Biden government would not try to open a port of entry at least.
“I think they just don’t understand. I feel frustrated and disappointed with them,” Cuéllar said on his Twitter account.
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Cuéllar and leaders of border communities argue that 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 vehicles, even if they only come to shop, are not allowed to enter and this has been devastating for the local economy.
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Speaking on the Border Report platform, Cuéllar said he asked National Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas how the government admits undocumented people crossing the southern border without testing if they carry coronavirus, but does not allow the entry of people from Mexico, who have visas, and want to shop or visit their relatives.
Prior to the pandemic, some 18 million Mexican citizens crossed the border each year and spent $ 19 million in the United States, most of it in the border regions.
Mexico confirms extension of restrictions
Monday, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico confirmed the extension of travel restrictions with the border of United States due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
On Twitter, the SRE has indicated that “Mexico’s restrictions on non-essential land crossings from the United States will be maintained until 11:59 p.m. on May 21, 2021 in those northern states that are in orange and red according to the Mexican Government ‘s epidemiological risk traffic light “.
He added that the two countries “are in talks to relax restrictions on border crossings based on the spread rates of # COVID19 on both sides of the border.”
Restrictions on non-essential land crossings will be maintained until 23:59 on May 21, 2021 in those northern states that are in color and according to the epidemiological risk traffic light of the @GobiernoMX.
– Foreign Relations (@SRE_mx) April 20, 2021
jabf / lsm