Border between the USA and Mexico to remain closed due to COVID-19

By Laura Brown
July 24, 2020
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©f8grapher/Getty Images
The prolonged closure began in March 2020, and it comes in response to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic in both countries.

The land border between the USA and Mexico will remain closed through at least August 20, 2020 to all but essential travel. The prolonged closure began in March 2020, and it comes in response to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic in both countries. While flights between the two countries are still happening, people are encouraged to research any quarantine restrictions in their destination.

Essential travel is defined as:

  • U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents returning to the United States;
  • Individuals traveling for medical purposes (e.g., to receive medical treatment in the United States);
  • Individuals traveling to attend educational institutions;
  • Individuals traveling to work in the United States (e.g., individuals working in the farming or agriculture industry who must travel between the United States and Mexico in furtherance of such work);
  • Individuals traveling for emergency response and public health purposes (e.g., government officials or emergency responders entering the United States to support Federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial government efforts to respond to Covid-19 or other emergencies);
  • Individuals engaged in lawful cross-border trade (e.g., truck drivers supporting the movement of cargo between the United States and Mexico);
  • Individuals engaged in official government travel or diplomatic travel;
  • Members of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the spouses and children of members of the U.S.
  • Armed Forces, returning to the United States; and
  • Individuals engaged in military-related travel or operations.


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