Sen. Tester urges Biden administration to reopen northern border

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) is requesting the Biden administration reopen the northern border and recently encouraged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to end the trucker and traveler vaccination mandate.

Tester recently implored Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to eliminate the vaccination mandate for those entering the United States through land ports of entry and fully reopen all land ports along the U.S.-Canada border to pre-pandemic hours.

“We have made significant progress in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, and I continue to encourage all individuals to get vaccinated,” Tester wrote in correspondence to Mayorkas. “However, we must also work to address inflation and improve the economy. That’s why I am concerned about continued restrictions for land travel that disproportionately affect truck drivers from Canada who are responsible for bringing food, farm inputs, and other vital goods into the United States.”

Tester believes removing the restrictions for truck drivers and increasing trade with Canada is key to improving the nation’s supply chain and decreasing inflation.

“Reducing restrictions on international travel and restoring hours of operations at our land ports of entry will help the American economy stay strong,” Tester concluded. “I stand ready to assist DHS in fully reopening the northern border, increasing trade, and improving our economy and national security.”