US extends ban on non-essential travel across Canadian border
Aug 20, 2021, 9:12 AM | Updated: 12:01 pm
The Peace Arch border crossing in Blaine, Washington. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Friday that it will be extending restrictions on non-essential travel at land border crossings with Canada and Mexico to Sept. 21.
A previous ban had been set to expire on Saturday, Aug. 21. Meanwhile, local leaders in Washington have urged the United States and Canada to reopen the border for months now, pointing to a tenuous half-open, half-closed situation created by Canada opening its own side of the border to vaccinated Americans on Aug. 9.
To minimize the spread of #COVID19, including the Delta variant, the United States is extending restrictions on non-essential travel at our land and ferry crossings with Canada and Mexico through September 21, while continuing to ensure the flow of essential trade and travel.
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) August 20, 2021
Things have been particularly difficult for the town of Port Roberts, which despite being situated in Washington state, shares its only land border with Canada. With Canadians — who own most of the homes in Point Roberts as vacation residences — barred from entering the isolated community, and the Americans of Point Roberts now free to go shopping across the border in British Columbia, the businesses in the small town are losing what little customer base they had left.
Commenting on Friday’s extension, Washington Sen. Patty Murray labeled it “the wrong decision” by the Biden administration, citing the need to carve out exceptions for residents of the Point Roberts community.
“I have yet to be presented with a compelling explanation outlining why a border exemption for Point Roberts has not yet been provided,” Murray said in a news release.
Earlier this week, former Obama administration official Alan Bersin also criticized the White House’s current approach to the border, which has operated without collaboration with the Canadian government.
“This is a very dangerous precedent, and a very dangerous experience,” he said.
Those within the Biden administration have pointed to rising COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations as the driving factor for the extended closure.
KIRO Radio reporter Nicole Jennings contributed to this story
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