border Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Food Crisis Feared In Washington Town Isolated By Border As Only Grocery Store Teeters On Closure

By Tom Banse June 23, 2021

The nearly-deserted parking lot at the beginning of what should have been a busy May weekend explains a lot about why the only supermarket in Point Roberts, Washington, is on the verge of closure.

A local fire chief is warning of a looming "humanitarian crisis" on the peninsula of Point Roberts in northwest Washington state. It's a strange predicament brought on by a money-losing supermarket and pandemic-related restrictions on crossing the U.S.-Canada border.Read More

Ongoing Border Closure Makes Washington Enclave Of Point Roberts ‘Stir Crazy’

By Tom Banse May 21, 2021

A common sign hanging outside businesses in Point Roberts that yearn to have Canadian visitors back.

The United States and Canadian governments confirmed Thursday that pandemic border crossing restrictions will continue for at least another month to June 21. This is the fourteenth month-by-month extension of the closure of the northern border to nonessential crossings. The lengthy closure has been especially wearing on Point Roberts, a community in northwestern Washington Read More

More Than 170,000 Migrants Taken Into Custody At Southwest Border In March, Highest In 15 Years

By NPR News April 2, 2021

A group of migrants from El Salvador arrives in Roma, Texas, after crossing the Rio Grande on March 30, 2021 in Roma, Texas. CREDIT: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

More than 170,000 migrants were taken into custody at the Southwest border in March, the highest monthly total since at least 2006, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials who have been briefed on the preliminary numbers but are not authorized to speak publicly.Read More

President Biden Says ‘Nothing Has Changed’ But Child Migrants Crossing Border At Higher Pace

By NPR News March 28, 2021

Graphic of unaccompanied minors crossing US-Mexico border - today and through 2014

It is true, as Biden states, that numbers often rise during the early months of the year when temperatures begin to warm. But the number of children arriving today without their parents is considerably higher than at the same time in 2019 and 2020. In fact, the number of unaccompanied children being apprehended by the Border Patrol were higher in February than they've been Read More

Couples And Families Separated By U.S.-Canada Border Closure Find Oasis At Peace Arch Park

By Tom Banse March 16, 2021

Crossing the border into Peace Arch State Park from Canada, at left, entails stepping across a ditch. CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

This coming Sunday, March 21, will mark one year since the U.S. and Canada closed their shared border to nonessential crossings due to the pandemic. It's anybody's guess when the border might reopen for discretionary trips. In the meantime, every weekend rain or shine, Peace Arch State Park in Blaine, Washington, becomes a happening meetup point for couples and families Read More

Art Project Of Seesaws Built On U.S. Border Wall Win Prestigious Design Prize

By NPR News January 19, 2021

American and Mexican families play with a see-saw installation at the border near Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, in July of 2019. The project has been recognized by a prestigious design award. Luis Torres/AFP via Getty Images

An art project that turned the border wall at the U.S.-Mexico border into the temporary base for pink seesaws – inviting children on each side to come play together – has won the London's Design Museum award for best design of 2020.Read More

U.S.-Canada Border Closure Likely To Be ‘With Us For Awhile’ As Pandemic Persists

By Tom Banse November 17, 2020

Peace Arch Park reportedly is the scene of lots of weddings this summer featuring Canadian-American couples seeking to ease their border crossing status.

The most recent extension of the U.S.-Canada border closure expires this Friday, November 21, but no one expects the restrictions to be lifted then. First implemented in March, the closure of the land and sea border to nonessential crossings have been extended monthly by mutual agreement between Ottawa and the Trump administration.Read More

U.S. Borders With Canada And Mexico Will Remain Closed At Least Another Month

By NPR News October 19, 2020

Bill Blair, Canada's public safety minister, tweeted on Monday, "We are extending non-essential travel restrictions with the United States until November 21st, 2020. Our decisions will continue to be based on the best public health advice available to keep Canadians safe."Read More

Ferry Service Boosted To Washington Town Of Point Roberts, Cut Off By U.S.-Canada Border Closure

By Tom Banse September 3, 2020

Point Roberts , Washington, on the southern tip British Columbia is stuck between a rock and a border closure during the pandemic. CREDIT: Esmy Jimenez/KUOW. Created with DataMapper

The Port of Bellingham is increasing temporary ferry service to the isolated enclave of Point Roberts, Washington. That community was largely cut off from the U.S. mainland when Canada and the U.S. closed their land border this spring to nonessential crossings to control the spread of the coronavirus.Read More

Food Crisis Feared In Washington Town Isolated By Border As Only Grocery Store Teeters On Closure

Ongoing Border Closure Makes Washington Enclave Of Point Roberts ‘Stir Crazy’

More Than 170,000 Migrants Taken Into Custody At Southwest Border In March, Highest In 15 Years

President Biden Says ‘Nothing Has Changed’ But Child Migrants Crossing Border At Higher Pace

Couples And Families Separated By U.S.-Canada Border Closure Find Oasis At Peace Arch Park

Art Project Of Seesaws Built On U.S. Border Wall Win Prestigious Design Prize

U.S.-Canada Border Closure Likely To Be ‘With Us For Awhile’ As Pandemic Persists

U.S. Borders With Canada And Mexico Will Remain Closed At Least Another Month

Ferry Service Boosted To Washington Town Of Point Roberts, Cut Off By U.S.-Canada Border Closure

Coronavirus Closed The Border. This Bellingham – BC Couple Was Stuck On Opposite Sides

U.S. – Canada Border Restrictions Extended Another 30 Days

Acting Head Of Customs and Border Protection Says New Asylum Rule In ‘Pilot’ Phase

Watchdogs Cite Lax Medical And Mental Health Treatment Of ICE Detainees

FACT CHECK: President Trump Wrongly States Obama Administration Had Child Separation Policy

President Trump Speaks On Border Security, With Response And Fact Checks

Partial Government Shut Down Is On Over Stalemate On U.S.-Mexico Border Funding

Congress Poised To Punt On Government Spending Fight Over Border Wall

A Journalist’s Journey, Guided By Curiosity For Her Father’s Illness