Though U.S.-Canada border will reopen soon, area lawmakers insist work isn’t finished
While many area lawmakers hailed news Tuesday, Oct. 12, that the U.S. plans to loosen its border restrictions and allow vaccinated Canadians to cross at land points of entry, they say their work to support communities most impacted by the 19-month-long closure to non-essential travel is not done.
“For nineteen long months, our border communities have lived in a state of hardship and frustration, waiting month-to-month for news that the northern border would reopen and they could begin to move past this crisis,” U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., said in a statement emailed to The Bellingham Herald. “In that time, families have moved elsewhere, businesses have closed, and some communities are unrecognizable from where they started during this crisis.
“Our border communities can finally see the light at the end of this long, dark tunnel with the Biden administration’s announcement that fully vaccinated Canadians will be able to travel to the United States by land and sea just as they’ve been able to do by plane. ... This is just the start of the next chapter.
“For many border communities, especially Point Roberts, they will need additional support and resources to build back better and I will continue to champion their voices in Congress.”
Starting at a date next month yet to be announced, visitors from Canada and Mexico who are vaccinated will be able to drive into the U.S. through border crossings that have been closed to travel deemed non-essential since March 21, 2020, since the start of the COVD-19 pandemic. Since then, the border restrictions have been extended a month at a time.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said the state’s residents “have long been ready to welcome back Canadians traveling by land,” in a statement Wednesday, Oct. 13.
“It should have happened sooner: Canada has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, and Canadians were already allowed to travel to the U.S. by air throughout the pandemic,” Inslee’s statement said. “The local economies of border communities in Washington and other states are connected to our friends across the border, and their recovery from the pandemic has been delayed by the border closure.”
Canada lifted similar restrictions for vaccinated Americans in early August, putting pressure on the United States to open its borders.
The current closure is scheduled to expire on Oct. 21, but will be continued until the new rules are put in place in November.
Area lawmakers, including state representatives and Inslee, have been calling for the White House to loosen border restrictions on Canada for months to help border communities.
“This is great news for our border communities here in Washington state, especially for the people of Point Roberts who are almost entirely dependent on cross-border travel to sustain their local economy,” U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said in a statement emailed to The Herald. “After pushing for movement on this front for months, I’m glad to finally see the safe reopening of the US-Canada border.
“However, I am still frustrated that — in all this time — a border exemption was not provided for Point Roberts. In fact, the next few weeks leading up to the reopening of the northern border will continue to be a challenge for this community.
“While there is light at the end of the tunnel, it’s clear that after months of economic calamity more must be done to make this community whole — and I will do everything in my power to support Point Roberts.”
The new rules for foreign nationals entering by land are expected to be implemented in early November and will go into effect in two phases. A vaccination requirement will go into effect for non-essential travelers next month, while truck drivers and other individuals who cross U.S. borders for work will have until January to be vaccinated.
“Today’s news that the Biden administration will reopen the U.S.-Canada border to vaccinated travelers is a relief for border communities in Washington state working to build back better,” U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., said in a statement emailed to The Herald. “Soon, residents in places like Whatcom County, especially Point Roberts, will be able to safely welcome back Canadians to visit family and friends, shop and enjoy all Washington has to offer.
“The public health response will lead the economic recovery. I encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated today to help defeat the pandemic and keep the economy moving forward.”
President Biden’s administration announced new rules for international air travel last month. Foreign nationals traveling to the United States by air will be required to provide proof of vaccination and a negative coronavirus test before they leave, unless they have received an exemption.
Officials said they wanted to have a “consistent” policy for cross-border travel by land and air. But unlike air travel, individuals coming to the United States through land ports of entry will not be required to present a negative COVID-19 test.
Vaccinated Americans who travel to Canada must provide proof of vaccination and a negative COVID test result.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers will question individuals seeking to enter the country at the land port of entry about their vaccination status and it will be up to each agent’s discretion to send non-essential travelers to a secondary check where they will be asked to present proof of vaccination.
As far as area lawmakers are concerned, any news on a reopening is good news for border communities in Whatcom County and elsewhere in the state.
“With the third busiest crossing on the Canada border, the State of Washington’s economy suffers when Canadians are unable to travel to the United States,” U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said in a statement emailed to The Herald. “This announcement will provide great relief to those waiting to see friends and loved ones from Canada, and to businesses in Point Roberts and other northern cities and towns hurting due to the decline in Canadian tourism.”
Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu welcomed the announcement in an email to The Herald.
“This is very good news for the many Whatcom County families which have been separated from loved ones since the start of the pandemic,” Sidhu said.
“It is also welcome news for our businesses, which have been missing their Canadian customers. However, this is only the beginning. The relaxation of travel restrictions for visitors will not immediately undo the impacts of the past 18 months. Our border communities, especially Point Roberts, have suffered tremendously, and we still have work to do to address that,” he said.
At its Tuesday night meeting online, the County Council was discussing a resolution from Sidhu that called on President Biden to use an executive order creating exceptions for Point Roberts when Sidhu disclosed news of an end to border restrictions broke.
This story was originally published October 13, 2021 at 10:01 AM.
