“Finally, the New York-Canadian border will be open again to vaccinated travelers from both nations,” said Ms. Gillibrand, adding that the loss of Canadian business cost the U.S. economy $1.5 billion each month. “This reopening will be welcome news to countless businesses, medical providers, families, and loved ones that depend on travel across the northern border.”
The travel restrictions, implemented in March 2020 as coronavirus spread throughout the United States, have not applied to commercial traffic, returning U.S. citizens or students. But as vaccine distributions have increased throughout North America, political leaders representing communities along the U.S. borders have pleaded with the White House for months to lift the restrictions to provide a reprieve for business owners.
Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, said in a statement that the administration would reopen the border in November.
“Kudos to president Biden for doing the right thing and increasing cross border travel between Canada and the U.S.,” Mr. Schumer said.
Nicholas Fandos contributed reporting.