U.S., Canada Border To Temporarily Close Amid Coronavirus Fears

WASHINGTON, DC — The border between the United States and Canada will temporarily close to non-essential traffic, President Donald Trump tweeted Wednesday, and his administration also his administration is considering turning back all people who cross illegally from Mexico into the U.S., two administration officials told The Associated Press.

The call to close the border between the United States and Canada was a mutual decision by both countries, Trump tweeted.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also announced he would close the border to non-Canadian citizens amid the ongoing new coronavirus outbreak.

The closure will not affect trade between the two countries, Trump tweeted. Canada relies on the U.S. for 75 percent of its exports and about 18 percent of American exports go to Canada, AP reported.

Truck drivers and Canadian snowbirds, who live in the U.S. for part of the year and are returning to Canada, are among those exempted.

No final decisions have been made about the changes under consideration for the Mexican border, the officials told AP, adding Trump could use powers available during emergencies such as the coronavirus pandemic to undertake what would be one of the most aggressive attempts to curtail illegal immigration.