BUFFALO, N.Y. — At midnight Friday night, the United States restricted travel across the borders with Canada and Mexico for the next month in an attempt to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said it is suspending entry of anyone at either border who does not have proper travel documentation.
Officials will allow essential travel, which includes anyone who is traveling for medical, education, work and cross-border trade purposes.
Emergency responders, government officials, and military personnel and their families will also be allowed.
President Donald Trump and Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard say their governments have agreed to prohibit recreational and tourist travel.
It's similar to the restrictions put in place earlier this week along the U.S. and Canadian border. There would be no ban on people traveling for work or other essential activities and there would be no halt to commercial traffic.
The United States, Mexico and Canada have also worked out an agreement to immediately return people trying to cross the borders illegally.