The Trump administration will continue a ban on all nonessential travel at the U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico through June 22 at the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Homeland Security announced late Tuesday.
The closure at all land ports of entry along the southern and northern borders began in late March and was set to expire this week. On Monday, the CDC ordered the extension of the restrictions on the grounds that allowing nonessential travelers, such as tourists, to enter the United States poses a public safety risk.
“Our efforts over the last several months to limit nonessential travel have been successful, and now is not the time to change course,” acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf said in a statement. “The president has made it clear that we must continue to keep legitimate, commercial trade flowing while limiting those seeking to enter our country for nonessential purposes. Nonessential travel will not be permitted until this administration is convinced that doing so is safe and secure.”
Wolf said his Canadian and Mexican counterparts support the country’s continuation of the travel ban.
As of Monday, there have been 4.6 million confirmed coronavirus cases globally, and 300,000 people have died from the virus. The U.S. has confirmed the most cases, with 1.5 million recorded thus far. Canada has 76,000 known cases, and Mexico has established 47,000 cases.
Exceptions to the travel limitations include U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents returning to the U.S., people traveling for medical reasons, people going to school, people who work in the farming or agriculture industries, emergency and public health officials, members of the U.S. military, and commercial employees involved in cross-border trade.
