Following Push from Senator Collins, Northern Border Will Reopen on November 8th
Washington, D.C. – Following a push from U.S. Senator Susan Collins, travel restrictions for fully vaccinated Canadians will finally be lifted on November 8th, allowing them to cross the land border between the U.S. and Canada.
“For many Maine families and small businesses, November 8th cannot come soon enough.
“It simply made no sense to allow vaccinated air travelers to come to the U.S. but not allow vaccinated Canadians to drive across the northern border. It was even more frustrating given that vaccinated Canadians could enter the U.S. by air but not by land.
“This long-overdue announcement will finally help to reunite tight-knit border communities and provide a boost to Maine small businesses that have suffered significant revenue losses without Canadian customers.”
+++
Senator Collins has repeatedly pushed to adjust or reevaluate restrictions on non-essential travel across the U.S.-Canada border. Earlier this month, she joined a group of six Senators in calling on the Administration to provide the medical justifications for continued U.S. -Canada land border restrictions. In July, she joined the rest of the Maine Delegation in sending a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, urging the Biden Administration to take steps to allow fully-vaccinated Canadians to cross the U.S.-Canada border for business or leisure given current health conditions. In May, she participated in a call with U.S. Senators and Canadian members of Parliament to discuss the importance of reopening the border.
Earlier this year, Senator Collins sent a letter urging DHS Secretary Mayorkas to ease restrictions on U.S.-Canada travel and included copies of correspondence she had with both former President Trump and former Acting Secretary Chad Wolf advocating for limited border crossing exemptions based on localized risks.
###
