BUFFALO, N.Y. — This week, a report in the Blaine and Birch Bay, Washington community paper The Northern Light cited a source confirming the United States intended to unilaterally open its border to Canadian citizens.

However, Thursday, Congressman Brian Higgins contested that report.

"We tracked that down with about four sources yesterday," Higgins (D) said. "They claim it's not true."

What You Need To Know

  • The U.S.-Canada border's now been closed to non-essential travel for 15 months
  • A report out of Washington state this week suggested some movement finally
  • However, Rep. Brian Higgins says for now, things continue to be at a standstill
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Still, Higgins, who over the past several months has repeatedly called for a phased reopening of the border by both countries, did not totally dismiss the idea. He said a unilateral move is an option for the U.S.

"What it would do, it would apply more pressure on Canada to look at this a little bit differently," Higgins said.

Immigration attorney Rosana Berardi said the immediate impact of the U.S. opening its border to Canadians would be limited for several reasons. Canadian authorities would still restrict American travelers.

Canada also continues to lag severely behind the United States in vaccination rates and requires a two-week quarantine when citizens return home from international travel. That means Canadians would not likely come across the border simply to shop or dine in areas like Western New York.

"Family members that haven't seen each other in 14 or 15 months now would maybe say, ‘hey, I'll come in and visit my cousin or grandmother in Pittsburgh, and I'm willing to quarantine for two weeks when I go back home.’ So I think that's who this would really impact the most is that group," Berardi said.

Higgins said, perhaps, the long-term impact of opening the U.S. side of the border would be to get Canada to at least relax its definition of essential travelers to include Americans who have property or family there. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has reportedly indicated he'd like 3/4th of his citizens vaccinated before reopening.

"With all due respect to the prime minister of Canada, if you don't produce one dose of vaccine in the country and you're saying that you've got to get to 75%, that's a very steep climb," Higgins said.

In the meantime, Higgins continued to urge New York to allow Canadian citizens to come to get vaccines in the state.