COVID-19: U.S. Extends Restrictions on Land Border and Ferry Service Entries from Canada and Mexico

The administration is extending restrictions on entry to the U.S. via Canadian and Mexican land border posts or ferry services through September 21, 2020 due to the continuing pandemic.  This is the fifth extension of these border restrictions since they were originally imposed in March 2020.

Under the restrictions, only those doing “essential travel” are allowed to enter the U.S., which includes:

  • U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents returning to the United States;
  • Individuals traveling for medical purposes (e.g., to receive medical treatment in the United States);
  • Individuals traveling to attend educational institutions;
  • Individuals traveling to work in the United States (e.g., individuals working in the farming or agriculture industry who must travel between the United States and Canada or Mexico in furtherance of such work);
  • Individuals traveling for emergency response and public health purposes (e.g., government officials or emergency responders entering the United States to support federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial government efforts to respond to COVID-19 or other emergencies);
  • Individuals engaged in lawful cross-border trade (e.g., truck drivers supporting the movement of cargo between the United States and Canada or Mexico);
  • Individuals engaged in official government travel or diplomatic travel;
  • Members of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the spouses and children of members of the U.S. Armed Forces, returning to the United States; and
  • Individuals engaged in military-related travel or operations.

The restrictions don’t apply to those arriving by air, but do apply to passenger rail.

You can find the rule regarding Canada here, and about Mexico here.