President Biden to require essential, nonresident travelers crossing state borders to be fully vaccinated

Essential non-resident travelers include workers such as truck drivers and government or emergency response officials who cross at U.S. land borders.

Essential travelers who enter the country by water borders via ferry must also be fully vaccinated by the same date, the official said. The official spoke to the Associated Press on the condition of their anonymity to preview the announcement.

The rules apply to non-U.S. nationals. American citizens and permanent residents may still enter the U.S. regardless of their vaccination status, but may face testing on arrival.

The Biden administration pushed back the requirement for essential travelers by more than two months from when it went into effect on Nov. 8 for non-essential visitors to prevent disruptions, particularly among truck drivers.

Norita Taylor, spokeswoman for the trucking group Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, criticized the vaccination requirement, calling it an example of “how unnecessary government mandates can force experienced owner-operators and independent truckers out of business.”

“These requirements are another example of how impractical regulations will send safe drivers off the road,” she said. About 47 million adults in the U.S. remain unvaccinated, according to figures from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).