US-Canada-Mexico border closures extend to Jan. 21

Freight continues to move freely under existing exemptions

A tractor-trailer entering the U.S. from Mexico. The US-Canada-Mexico borders will remain closed for non-essential travel to Jan. 21

Commercial trucks will continue to be able to move freight across the the U.S. land borders with Mexico and Canada, which remain closed for nonessential travel through Jan 21. (Photo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

The U.S. land borders with Canada and Mexico will remain closed for nonessential travel until at least late January, officials said on Friday, as the coming arrival of COVID-19 vaccines opened the door for the eventual easing to the unprecedented restrictions. 

The extension was expected as COVID-19 infections surge in all three countries. Trucks will continue to be able to move freight freely across the borders under the terms of the restrictions, in place since March.

The border likely will be closed for nonessential travel well past January. However, the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines means the restrictions could start to ease. 

The closures have hit border communities hard, particularly those that depend on tourism. Businesses have already been pushing to have some restrictions eased.


Large drug seizures from tractor-trailers, meanwhile, have become something of a regular occurrence since the borders closed for nonessential travel. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials recently announced four separate drug seizures involving trucks at South Texas border crossings.

Click for more FreightWaves articles by Nate Tabak

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