Border closure between the United States and Mexico extended until October 21, 2021

‘Non-essential’ crosses have been banned since March 2020 due to the covid-19 pandemic

The border between the United States and Mexico will remain closed to visitors and tourists at least until October 21, 2021, US authorities reported.

The entry restriction to the United States does not apply to air, freight rail, or sea travel between the United States and Mexico, but does apply to travel by passenger rail, passenger ferries, and pleasure craft between the United States. and Mexico.

The land border from Mexico to the United States has been closed to non-essential traffic since March 21, 2020. Only citizens or legal residents of the United States are allowed to pass by car or on foot, but not to persons with a tourist visa. Those restrictions have affected families that have been separated since the start of the pandemic.

Due to restrictions on the crossing of Mexican citizens through land ports, it is estimated that there have been losses of up to $ 10 billion in uncollected sales taxes and expenses in border communities.

Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard and the Secretary of National Security of the United States, Alejandro Mayorkas, met in June Mexico and discussed the measures they would have to take in order to reopen the land border between the two countries.

Ebrard said then that the dates for the reopening of the border depended on the levels of vaccination against covid-19 in Mexican cities bordering the United States.

“One way is for an agreement to be reached so that, depending on the progress we have per city, those restrictions will be relaxed until they are lifted,” said Ebrard in a joint press conference with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on June 22. . “Another way is that, when a percentage (of vaccination) is reached in all cities, that decision is made.”

On July 15, the Ministry of Foreign Relations reported in a statement that it was continuing with negotiations to reopen the border as soon as possible.

The United States imposed these restrictions from March 21, 2020, when most economic activities were closed and the authorities had measures such as “staying home” to try to combat the pandemic.

According to the measure issued by the United States in March 2020, crossings are allowed for reasons of essential economic activities, for medical or educational reasons, but recreational crossings are prohibited. Air travel is allowed, although there is always the discretion of US customs agents.