17 Governors Urge Biden to Lift COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate on International Travel
Seventeen governors on Aug. 10 urged President Joe Biden to lift the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for international travelers, noting that dozens of countries around the world have rescinded vaccination requirements in recent months.
Non-U.S. citizens who are also non-immigrants must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination before traveling by air into the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) imposed the requirement in October 2021 at the direction of Biden.
The order does not make sense, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and 16 other governors said in a letter to the president.
“The continued requirements, even as other countries are moving in the opposite direction, put us at a competitive disadvantage as our states work to welcome international travelers, attract foreign business prospects, and host global athletic competitions. Your actions are hurting our states’ economies and unnecessarily hampering our economic growth as a nation,” they wrote.
The governors also said maintaining the travel mandate is “contradictory” given the administration’s effort to revoke Title 42, a CDC order that enables quick expulsion of illegal immigrants because of concerns they may carry COVID-19.
“Why are you insisting on stringent vaccine requirements for legal temporary travelers but not for illegal immigrants who are attempting to stay in our country permanently?” the governors wondered.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Idaho Gov. Brad Little, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, and Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon signed the letter with Noem.
All the governors are Republicans.
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