Can I fly to the US from Mexico while the border is closed?
March 20, 2020 10:24 AM Subscribe
Being US citizens, will my son and I be able to fly to the US from Mexico while the US-Mexico border is closed?
The government has announced that the US-Mexico border will be closed for 30 days after today. I'm a US citizen residing in Mexico with my 6 year old son, who is also a US citizen. We have tickets to fly to the US tomorrow morning. In light of the border closure, will the flight be cancelled? If the flight is not cancelled, is there a chance we will be turned back at the US airport?
Due to health issues, my wife and daughter have been staying in the US since January. Our reason to travel now is so that we're not separated from the rest of our family indefinitely, but that doesn't seem like it falls under the definition of "essential travel", which includes "medical purposes, to attend educational institutions, for emergency response/public health purposes and lawful cross-border trade".
The government has announced that the US-Mexico border will be closed for 30 days after today. I'm a US citizen residing in Mexico with my 6 year old son, who is also a US citizen. We have tickets to fly to the US tomorrow morning. In light of the border closure, will the flight be cancelled? If the flight is not cancelled, is there a chance we will be turned back at the US airport?
Due to health issues, my wife and daughter have been staying in the US since January. Our reason to travel now is so that we're not separated from the rest of our family indefinitely, but that doesn't seem like it falls under the definition of "essential travel", which includes "medical purposes, to attend educational institutions, for emergency response/public health purposes and lawful cross-border trade".
Borders have been closing around the world but I don't know of any that are closed to a country's own citizens.
Per the US State Department advisory issued yesterday:
"...U.S. citizens who live in the United States should arrange for immediate return to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period."
OP has good reason to ask this question.
posted by shb at 10:50 AM on March 20, 2020 [5 favorites]
Per the US State Department advisory issued yesterday:
"...U.S. citizens who live in the United States should arrange for immediate return to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period."
OP has good reason to ask this question.
posted by shb at 10:50 AM on March 20, 2020 [5 favorites]
Let me amend the first part of my comment. If this is like the US-Canada border closing then that will "let Canadian citizens return home but would broadly close the U.S.-Canada border to tourists and shoppers"
Contact your airline of course but also try CBX that I linked above. I looked at their social networks and did not see an update but you might try checking these later as to the border status.
posted by vacapinta at 11:08 AM on March 20, 2020
Contact your airline of course but also try CBX that I linked above. I looked at their social networks and did not see an update but you might try checking these later as to the border status.
posted by vacapinta at 11:08 AM on March 20, 2020
Best answer: Call or email the embassy.
posted by theora55 at 11:08 AM on March 20, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by theora55 at 11:08 AM on March 20, 2020 [3 favorites]
Also the State Dept is answering questions about this on twitter.
You keep saying return ASAP. There’s got to be a timeline for that! ASAP for many is next week, not tomorrow. @TravelGov
@realDonaldTrump
How long do our family members have to get home? A week? Two weeks? Don’t say ASAP!!!
We encourage U.S. citizens to take the earliest possible option to return to the United States. Many countries are implementing travel restrictions with little advance notice.
posted by vacapinta at 11:17 AM on March 20, 2020
You keep saying return ASAP. There’s got to be a timeline for that! ASAP for many is next week, not tomorrow. @TravelGov
@realDonaldTrump
How long do our family members have to get home? A week? Two weeks? Don’t say ASAP!!!
We encourage U.S. citizens to take the earliest possible option to return to the United States. Many countries are implementing travel restrictions with little advance notice.
posted by vacapinta at 11:17 AM on March 20, 2020
Borders have been closing around the world but I don't know of any that are closed to a country's own citizens. I believe "returning home"/"family reunification" is considered essential travel.
That's not true. For example Indian citizens in Europe have been asked not return for now. If they were on temporary visas in Europe they've been negotiations to extend them until the worst of the crisis is over. This is an unprecedented situation and the world is reacting in unprecedented ways.
posted by peacheater at 11:32 AM on March 20, 2020 [2 favorites]
That's not true. For example Indian citizens in Europe have been asked not return for now. If they were on temporary visas in Europe they've been negotiations to extend them until the worst of the crisis is over. This is an unprecedented situation and the world is reacting in unprecedented ways.
posted by peacheater at 11:32 AM on March 20, 2020 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks for your answers everyone, I took the suggestion to call the embassy (why didn't I think of that?) and they confirmed that as of now we should have no trouble entering the country tomorrow. (Of course, now I'm worried that I misphrased the question somehow and got the wrong answer, but I'm pretty sure that's just anxiety talking.)
posted by jomato at 11:46 AM on March 20, 2020 [11 favorites]
posted by jomato at 11:46 AM on March 20, 2020 [11 favorites]
Thank you for the update. good news is a big help.
posted by theora55 at 12:39 PM on March 20, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by theora55 at 12:39 PM on March 20, 2020 [3 favorites]
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The tricky thing is the flight and I can't advise you there. But when my parents fly from Mexico to San Diego they fly to Tijuana and then walk over the CBX. I mention this because that flight (Mexico)->Tijuana is an internal Mexican flight of course. then you walk across the border and you are in the US where you could head to SAN airport to get to where you need to be.
posted by vacapinta at 10:45 AM on March 20, 2020 [5 favorites]