Unvaccinated not allowed to cross border

New American rules at the border will make life even more difficult for Campobello Island residents, especially those not vaccinated against COVID 19. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas has announced that, as of January 22, all foreign nationals entering the United States via land or ferry from Canada or Mexico must show proof of vaccination.
This rule already applied for non Americans entering the United States for non essential reasons, but the new rule applies to essential travel as well, according to a Department of Homeland Security news release. The new rule applies to Campobello residents, New Brunswick Southwest MP John Williamson and Mayor Harvey Matthews both confirm.
"Until this new rule came into place, if you were travelling to the United States for non essential reasons you had to show you were vaccinated and, as of a few days ago, everyone who is a foreign national, a non American, non U.S. citizen, must all be vaccinated," Williamson says.
Campobello Island residents have a partial exemption from Canadian rules, allowing them to drive to Lubec to buy gasoline, for example, without registering online and getting tested for COVID 19 to reenter Canada. "But it's kind of a moot point because Washington stepped in," Williamson says. "And it makes it real hard for non-vaxxed. They can't go over," Matthews says in a text message.
The MP expressed fear in December, in fact, that the new rule requiring all foreign nationals to show proof of vaccination, which President Joe Biden said was coming, would include Campobello residents.
"These are American rules that the Member of Parliament has very little ability to influence," Williamson says. "I have reached out to Senator Susan Collins to see if we can secure a continued exemption for Campobello residents, particularly those who have medical needs, and that is ongoing," the MP says.
Collins' staff confirms that Williamson's staff contacted them about a constituent unable to leave Campobello for medical treatment due to COVID 19 requirements at the border.
"U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) offers a travel waiver for Canadians who need to cross into the U.S. for emergency situations, such as necessary medical treatment. We have made CBP aware of the Campobello resident's situation and will relay the information supporting a waiver request for their consideration," an email from the senator's office states.
"I've always had good relations with the Maine senator, but it's a whole different world. Even though the United States is beginning to let up and open up, for some reason the Biden administration is tightening things up on the border on essential services, and that is impacting Campobello families, unfortunately," Williamson says.
On a somewhat related topic, the government of Canada has announced that, as of January 15, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated foreign national truck drivers will be directed back to the United States.
Unvaccinated Canadian truck drivers, who cannot be denied entry, will need to meet pre entry, arrival, day eight testing and quarantine requirements, according to a Canadian government news release. A Canadian government representative makes the final decisions regarding entry and quarantine at the port of entry.