U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico Land Border Restrictions Extended Through January 21st
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will continue to implement the Trump Administration’s ban on “non-essential” travel across U.S. land borders and ferry travel with Mexico and Canada through January 21, 2021, according to a set of notifications to be published in the Federal Register. The notices contain a typo stating the new policy expiration date as 2020, but it is assumed that the correct date is January 21, 2021. The restrictions were due to expire on December 21.
The initial ban on non-essential travel across the northern and southern borders began on March 21 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak; it was originally scheduled to expire on April 20, and has been extended several times in one-month increments. The policy may again be reviewed for possible extension in January depending on the status of the COVID emergency. The restrictions do not affect air travel.
A closer look
CBP defines “non-essential” travel as travel that is considered tourism or recreational in nature, which includes sightseeing, gambling and attending cultural events.
“Essential” travel that may continue across the borders under the new restrictions includes, but is not limited to:
- U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents returning to the United States
- Travel for lawful cross-border trade (e.g. truck drivers carrying cargo)
- Travel to work in the United States
- Travel for medical purposes (e.g., to receive medical treatment in the United States)
- Travel to attend educational institutions
- Travel for emergency response and public health purposes (e.g., government officials or emergency responders entering the United States to assist government efforts to respond to COVID-19 or other emergencies)
- Travel by members of the U.S. Armed Forces, and their spouses and children, returning to the United States
- Other forms of travel as determined by the CBP on a case by case basis
The Administration has also asserted in communications that trade and business travel will be subject to additional screening. In practice, there has been some inconsistent treatment of business travelers since the border restrictions began.