Sen. Susan Collins
Susan Margaret CollinsMedia circulates wagons for conspiracy theorist Neera Tanden Why failed Republicans of the ‘Never-Trumpers’ see Becerra as the next target in the confirmation wars MORE (R-Maine) urged the Biden administration to revise an order on US-Canada border restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In a letter of 16 February to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Alejandro Mayorkas
Alejandro MayorkasFlorida Republicans pressure Biden to implement Trump’s order in Venezuela’s Hillicon Valley: Privacy, immigrant rights groups hit ‘smart wall’ proposal | New DHS policies aim to combat cyber ‘epidemic’ | Exploring Twitter, allowing users to charge for content The Memo: Biden faces the first major setback while Tanden swings MORECollins said he hoped they could work towards a “fair solution” for communities along the US-Canada border that takes into account localized levels of risk.
Collins released publicly the letter on Thursday.
“Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, strict travel restrictions at land ports of entry between the United States and Canada have been in place for almost a year,” Collins wrote.
“While I appreciate the need to limit non-essential travel to the United States in order to prevent further spread of COVID-19, these restrictions must reflect the levels of risk located along our border and allow certain common sense exceptions, such as visits between close relatives or day-to-day local businesses in low COVID-19 transmission areas, “she continued.
The letter comes after DHS tweeted on February 19th that the US, Canada and Mexico are extending non-travel restrictions across their land borders until March 21, which would keep the restrictions in place for exactly one year.
To protect our citizens and prevent the spread of COVID-19, the United States, Canada and Mexico are extending restrictions on non-essential travel across our land borders until March 21. We are also working to ensure that essential trade and travel continues. Open.
– Homeland Security (@DHSgov) February 19, 2021
The restrictions were first agreed last March, but have been repeatedly extended throughout 2020 as the pandemic accelerated and persisted.
Under current restrictions, Canadian citizens, those with dual Canadian citizenship and family members and partners may cross for non-essential purposes, Associated Press report.