A published report says senior U.S. politicians last week urged President Joe Biden to keep the border open to fully vaccinated Canadians.
The joint, bipartisan letter to Biden and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas has sparked speculation about whether Canada or the U.S. have plans to shutter the border again, said the Niagara Independent.
“Maintaining an open border to vaccinated travelers has been essential to the functioning economy of New York State and to the wellbeing of New York families,” read the letter, penned by U.S. senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Western New York congressmen Brian Higgins and Chris Jacobs. “We write to urge you to work with Canada to keep the northern border open to vaccinated individuals, even as the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 raises new challenges.”
“Now that vaccines are widely available, we cannot return to the economic and personal sacrifices that would be made if the northern border is closed once again,” the lawmakers said. “The impact of nearly 20 months of closure was devastating to countless New York businesses, medical providers, and families who depend on travel across the New York-Canadian border.
“The northern border is the gateway to an indispensable economic partnership, and we are confident border crossings can continue safely and efficiently.”
The U.S. closed the land border with Canada in March, 2020. The border stayed closed for more than 18 months and reopened November 8 of last year.
The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently warned Americans to avoid travel to Canada due to “very high” levels of COVID-19.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last month said there’s no point in closing the U.S.-Canadian border as the Omicron variant had already spread.
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Correction: The Biden Administration did not close the US-Canada land border in March 2020 – that was the trump administration.
Yes, that is correct! I will fix that. Thanks Stanley