US-Mexico border restrictions extended to June 22

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf announced Tuesday afternoon that border restrictions will continue between the U.S. and Mexico amid the coronavirus pandemic.  

Wolf announced that nonessential travel between the two countries will be restricted until June 22.

The secretary’s announcement comes the same day restrictions were set to expire between the United States and its neighbors —  Mexico and Canada. The restrictions allow trade but significantly reducing cross-border traffic. 

“We have been in contact with our Canadian and Mexican counterparts and they also agree that extending these restrictions is prudent at this time,” Wolf said in a statement. “We appreciate our partnership with Mexico and Canada in ensuring that North America is working together to combat the ongoing global pandemic.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Tuesday morning that U.S.-Canada border restrictions would be extended for another 30 days. 

As of Tuesday, Mexico has reported 51,633 cases of coronavirus and 5,332 deaths, though the country has acknowledged that a lack of testing could mean those numbers are much higher.

The U.S. has confirmed 1.54 million cases and recorded 90,694 deaths.

The administration is reportedly working to unveil a new order that would indefinitely extend border restrictions amid the coronavirus outbreak, according to The New York Times. 

The move, which is reportedly being reviewed by several government agencies, would keep legal points of entry shuttered and restrict nonessential travel through Mexico and Canada until the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determines that the coronavirus no longer poses a threat to public health.