The U.S.-Mexico border will reopen to land traffic for non-essential travelers in early November, Mexico’s Foreign Minister Marcel Ebrard said Friday, following more than a year of closure due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“Land and air travel to the United States will be allowed for vaccinated individuals,” he added.
The ability to travel across the U.S.-Mexico border will depend on vaccination, which is why “in addition, of course, to saving the lives of Mexicans, the President has emphasized accelerating the vaccination process,” Ebrard said.
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas also announced on Tuesday the upcoming reopenings of both the Canadian and Mexican borders in November for travelers fully vaccinated for COVID-19 with appropriate documentation.
“Cross-border travel creates significant economic activity in our border communities and benefits our broader economy. We are pleased to be taking steps to resume regular travel in a safe and sustainable manner,” he added.
The border reopening is scheduled to take place in two phases. In November, CBP will begin allowing fully vaccinated travelers from Mexico or Canada to enter the United States with appropriate travel paperwork.
In January 2022, all inbound foreign travelers, including those from outside of Mexico and Canada, will be included, according to the statement by Mayorkas. The phased reopening is designed to offer time for essential workers, including truck drivers, students, healthcare workers, and other travelers to complete full vaccination status.
The reopening should be an economic advantage to some American border cities. Some locations have experienced a decline in business during the pandemic closures, as workers and tourists from Mexico were a major part of local businesses.
