On the US Lifting Restrictions on International Travelers

 

This week, restrictions on travelers entering the US that have been in place since the beginning of the pandemic were lifted. Reactions have ranged from joy to disapproval. Here is how some major media outlets covered the news:

Tends to skew right:

Breitbart: Tears, relief, long lines as US reopens borders after 20 months

This article’s headline emphasizes the duration of the border shutdown and the emotional impact on those who were stuck or had family stuck overseas. It is not politically biased though, mentioning that Trump imposed the bans in 2020 and that they have been upheld by Biden until this point. One aspect that makes this article worthwhile is the original reporting it includes. It features quotes from people who reunited with their family at airports around the US, specifically JFK and Dulles airports. This made for an effective exploration of the issue this article covers. Overall, the tone of this article was much more positive than past articles I’ve read from this source. 

Trends toward the center:

AP: US reopens to international travel, allows happy reunions

This article has a similar positive tone to the one above. It mentions that travellers must have proof of vaccination and a negative COVID test and includes important details like that toward the beginning, making it a bit easier to follow than the Breitbart story. It also includes original reporting composed of quotes from those who were affected by the restrictions. One interesting perspective that was featured was a man and his daughter who live in Mexico near the California border and were not able to cross and visit a family member that lived just minutes away from them. This is a demonstration of the real world impact of the restrictions and how they were not flexible for specific cases. It does not approach the issue from any political perspective, instead providing a helpful neutral overview. 

Tends to skew left:

CNN: The US is reopening its borders to Europe, the global epicenter of Covid-19

This article takes a different approach than the others. Rather than sharing the overwhelmingly positive tone of the previous articles, it focuses on how the US borders are reopening as Europe experiences a surge in COVID-19 cases. It includes a statement from the World Health Organization that Europe is currently “at the epicenter” of the pandemic. The author included original reporting from Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, speaking to multiple people who were excited to travel back to the US to visit family after not being able to for such a long time. It also notes that many European airlines reported “full or nearly full flights” to the US. It closes by stating that some experts have worried about a potential winter spike in COVID-19 cases in Europe, but politicians are insisting that the reopening is good for the people and the economy. Overall, there is no overwhelming political bias, though this article certainly frames the issue in a more negative light than the previous ones.

My balanced take:

This week, the United States lifted existing restrictions on international travelers entering the country. These restrictions were put into place by former president Trump back in early 2020. Since then, access to the US for international travelers has been extremely limited, with many being separated from family for the past 20 months. Now, flights from Europe to the United States are back at full capacity, and border crossings from Mexico and Canada are open. All travelers must be vaccinated or provide a negative COVID test before their trip. Some are questioning the timing of lifting these restrictions, especially since the World Health Organization recently called Europe the “epicenter” of the pandemic. Mostly though, millions of people around the world are relieved to be able to visit loved ones and take trips to the United States.