GOP chair Stefanik blasts Biden admin, calls for unilateral reopening of northern border

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik sends letter to Biden administration calling for unilateral opening of northern border.

In May, the Department of Homeland Security extended the land border closure for nonessential travel between the U.S. and both Canada and Mexico until June 21. The restrictions were first put in place at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020 and have been extended on a monthly basis ever since.  "If a bilateral reopening plan cannot be established and publicly announced before the current restrictions expire on June 21, 2021, I urge you to unilaterally begin easing the restrictions for nonessential travel into the U.S. across the northern border," the letter, addressed to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, reads. At a recent press conference in Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he is looking forward to speaking with President Biden at the G7 summit later this month in the UK. He said the coronavirus and reopening international travel will be subjects of discussion, but did not commit to a timeline to lift restrictions.