Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
US Land Borders Reopen In November — But Only For Fully-Vaxxed Travelers
USA Today: Vaccinated Tourists Can Cross US Land Borders In Early November
Starting next month, the United States will allow fully vaccinated foreign nationals to cross its land borders for non-essential purposes such as tourism or visiting friends and family. The change would allow foreign tourists to enter the U.S. through land or ferry ports for the first time since March 2020. Government officials have not yet announced a date for the policy change but said it will take place in "early November," in tandem with the country's updated international air travel system. (Schulz, 10/12)
Axios: Biden To Reopen Canada, Mexico Border To Fully Vaccinated Travelers
Officials will implement land border vaccine requirements in two phases, an administration official told reporters on a Tuesday evening call. Early next month, non-essential travelers from Mexico and Canada who provide proof of full vaccination will be allowed into the U.S. at land ports of entry. Unvaccinated people will not be allowed into the U.S. for non-essential reasons like tourism and visiting friends and family. Air travel restrictions will also be lifted in early November, as was announced last month. In early January, everyone crossing U.S. land borders will be required to be fully vaccinated — whether coming for essential or non-essential reasons. (Kight, 10/13)
Politico: U.S. To Reopen Land, Ferry Borders Next Month To Vaccinated Travelers From Canada And Mexico
The Biden administration has been under intense pressure for months to remove travel restrictions for nonessential, fully vaccinated travelers at land ports of entry. Rep. Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.), one of the most outspoken lawmakers pushing for the U.S. to reopen its land border with Canada, first broke the news about the northern frontier with his own statement earlier Tuesday evening. “Strong vaccination rates in Canada made the continued border shutdown absurd and unjustifiable,” said Higgins, who co-chairs both the Canada-U.S. Interparliamentary Group and the Northern Border Caucus. “For months now we’ve heard from businesses that are suffering and families distraught over the separation imposed by the continued border shutdown.” (Blatchford, 10/12)
AP: US To Reopen Land Borders In November For Fully Vaccinated
Both Mexico and Canada have pressed the U.S. for months to ease restrictions on travel that have separated families and curtailed leisure trips since the onset of the pandemic. The latest move follows last month’s announcement that the U.S. will end country-based travel bans for air travel, and instead require vaccination for foreign nationals seeking to enter by plane. Both policies will take effect in early November, the officials said. They did not specify a particular date. The new rules only apply to legal entry to the U.S. Officials cautioned that those seeking to enter illegally will still be subject to expulsion under so-called Title 42 authority, first invoked by former President Donald Trump, that has drawn criticism from immigration advocates for swiftly removing migrants before they can seek asylum. One of the officials said the U.S. was continuing the policy because cramped conditions in border patrol facilities pose a COVID-19 threat. (Miller, 10/13)
