The U.S.-Mexico border will not reopen on September 21 as previously announced and will remain partially closed until mid-October, the Mexican government confirmed on Thursday.
The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) disclosed through its official Twitter account that the partial closure of the U.S.-Mexico border will remain in effect.
Las restricciones se mantendrán en los mismos términos en que se han desarrollado desde su implementación, el pasado 21 de marzo.
— Relaciones Exteriores (@SRE_mx) September 17, 2020
According to the SRE, the restrictions that had been implemented on March 21 will remain at least until Oct. 21, 2020.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection earlier this year introduced temporary restrictions to limit entry at border crossings to essential travel, emergency response, and public health purposes amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Essential travel includes:
- U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents returning to the United States;
- Individuals traveling to receive medical treatment;
- Individuals traveling to attend educational institutions;
- Individuals traveling to work in the United States;
- Individuals traveling for emergency response and public health purposes;
- Individuals engaged in lawful cross-border trade (truck drivers);
- 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.

These measures continue to be implemented due to the current coronavirus pandemic, as the authorities consider them necessary to prevent further spread of the virus in both countries.
The partial border closure is for travel that is considered non-essential. The restrictions established do not prevent the commercial transit of food, fuel, health care equipment, and medicines across the border between the two countries.
Travel from Mexico to the United States using Tijuana’s Cross Border Xpress (CBX) is not allowed. The CBX is a 400-foot pedestrian bridge for passengers that links the Tijuana International Airport with a terminal in San Diego.
However, there are no restrictions for CBX passengers headed south into Mexico, but travelers will have to fill out a questionnaire that is reviewed by Mexican border officials.
The ban on non-essential traffic across the land border does not affect air travel. American and Mexican passengers arriving in either country by plane is permitted.
On September 8th, the U.S. State Department reduced its level 4 ‘do not travel’ warning for Mexico to a level 3 ‘reconsider travel’.

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