June 23, 2021

Temporary restrictions on non-essential travel across shared ports of entry between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico were extended to July 21. With northbound waits of up to six hours at the San Ysidro Land Port of Entry during the past few weeks, border restrictions and delays continue to impact businesses across our region. At the Chamber, we have urged the federal government to lift restrictions and shared an overview of the negative economic impacts these restrictions have had on our business community. Senators and Representatives from Texas and Arizona also sent letters to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas urging him to commit to a timeframe to lift restrictions and collaborate with border communities.

The U.S. announced the donation of 1 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to Mexico. The Mexican Federal Government stated that the vaccines will be distributed amongst individuals aged 18-39 in border communities to help lift travel restrictions at the border. In Baja, vaccines are now available for this age group at designated vaccination stations across the state.

Secretary Mayorkas traveled to Mexico City this week to meet with Mexico’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Marcelo Ebrard. Their discussion focused on identifying strategies to facilitate trade and travel, including measures to gradually lift non-essential travel restrictions impacting our shared land ports of entry.

This follows Vice President Harris’s visit to Mexico City earlier this month to meet with President Lopez Obrador. Both leaders discussed shared commitments to expand bilateral economic cooperation, strengthen labor cooperation, and work together to address migration in Central America – another issue impacting the border region.