Foreign truckers will need to be vaccinated to enter US starting Saturday

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Foreign truckers will be required to prove they are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus upon entering the United States from Canada or Mexico starting Saturday, according to the Biden administration. The move is likely to disrupt supply chains further.

The Department of Homeland Security announced late Thursday that all non-U.S. citizens crossing at the land ports of entry or ferry terminals must be immunized. The mandate means foreigners traveling for essential purposes, including work and school, must show their vaccine cards.

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About 1 in 10 Canadian truckers are unvaccinated, meaning that 12,000 to 18,000 workers will be affected by the restriction, according to the Ontario-based Canadian Trucking Alliance. It’s unclear how many Mexican drivers are likely to be blocked by the policy.

“Starting on January 22, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security will require that non-U.S. individuals entering the United States via land ports of entry or ferry terminals along our Northern and Southern borders be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and be prepared to show related proof of vaccination,” said DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. “These updated travel requirements reflect the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to protecting public health while safely facilitating the cross-border trade and travel that is critical to our economy.”

Since Nov. 8, only nonessential travelers coming across to shop or visit were required to get the vaccine.

U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and U.S. nationals are exempt from the new rule. Noncitizens who illegally enter the U.S., predominantly by way of the southern border, are not required to be vaccinated, a problem that has frustrated Republican lawmakers who say the Biden administration’s standards are contradictory.

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In March 2020, the Trump administration imposed a monthlong ban on foreign, nonessential travelers seeking admission from Canada or Mexico. The move was at the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it was renewed monthly through November 2020.

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