ABSTRACT
On March 18, the US announced that it would close its northern border with Canada to non-essential traffic. On March 20, the US and Mexico agreed to restrict non-essential travel over their shared border for 30 days. On April 20, the United States, Mexico, and Canada announced they are extending restrictions on non-essential travel across the border. On August 9, 2021, Canada reopened the border, and on November 8, 2021, the US reopened the border, each with different restrictions. In the United States, travel restrictions varied by state. 27 states issued executive orders that placed restrictions on out-of-state visitors. Those restrictions included filling out travel declarations, completing a two-week quarantine, and/or proof of a negative test upon arrival. Further restrictions happened within states with municipality governments and tribal governments taking action that was counter to the state and federal orders. This article will analyze the tension that arose in the United States when conflicting orders from different levels of governments come out. How these different restrictions were in tension between protecting the public health and the ill effects that can come with restricting mobility and lessons we can learn to better prepare to respond in the future.
