COVID-19: US to extend nonessential travel ban with Canada and Mexico

The Department of Homeland Security will extend the ban on nonessential land travel with Canada and Mexico. Prepublication versions of the notices extending the bans were posted today.

Key Points:

• The restrictions will remain in place until 11:59 p.m. EST on Feb. 21.
• Only “essential travel” is permitted through land ports of entry along the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico borders.
• The list of individuals permitted to engage in “essential travel” includes: U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) returning to the U.S. and people traveling to work in the U.S. (e.g., agricultural workers), engaging in lawful cross-border trade (e.g., truck drivers transporting goods), or traveling to attend school, receive medical treatment, for public health purposes, or a limited number of other reasons.
• The restrictions do not apply to air or sea travel, but do apply to passenger rail, passenger ferry travel and pleasure boat travel.

Additional Information: The nonessential travel bans were imposed March 20 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They were initially in place for 30 days and have since been extended in month-long increments since then.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

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