The U.S. and Mexico have extended travel restrictions on their shared border until late July, as both countries continue to grapple with a high number of coronavirus cases. This announcement came Tuesday ahead of a Monday deadline to extend, end or modify the border restrictions.
What We Know:
- Even Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, confirmed Tuesday that restrictions at the U.S.-Canada border will be extended until July 21. “This extension protects Americans while keeping essential trade and travel flowing as we reopen the American economy,” DHS Acting Secretary Chad Wolf said in a statement.
- On the other side, Mexican officials and lawmakers along the U.S.-Mexico border are more broadly concerned that Trump will drag the restrictions into later this fall and use Mexico in the coming months to justify spikes in cases, especially with the November election just five months away.
- This comes as U.S. officials begin to consider if legal travel between the U.S. and Mexico could be partly responsible for the latest spike in coronavirus cases. “We’re getting that impression that he might keep it on longer,” said Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat that has worked closely with the Trump administration on certain border issues.
- The restrictions to non-essential travel have been in place since March and extended each month. They have effectively cut off border towns from the vital economic lifeline of Mexicans spending money at U.S. restaurants, hotels, and retail stores.
- The three countries are “all working to protect our citizens’ health, while simultaneously trying to protect their economic welfare and livelihoods by ensuring the economy continues to function,” said a spokesperson for the State Department, which works closely with Mexico’s Foreign Ministry.
- Many border states, such as Texas, have reopened their economies despite recent spikes in hospitalizations. Texas’ Department of State Health Services on Tuesday reported there were a record 2,518 coronavirus-related hospitalizations, as numbers have been increasing since Memorial Day weekend. Meanwhile, some restaurants in Arizona have been forced to shut down again as the state faces record-high numbers of new cases.
According to the Associated Press, the Trump administration has been exploring whether the recent outbreaks stem from legal travel between the U.S. and Mexico. Mexican Ambassador to the U.S. Martha Bárcena, said the U.S. numbers “speak for themselves,” but is hopeful to see both nations continue to fight the pandemic together.
