US-Mexico border reopens after 20 months of COVID shutdown

Guadalupe Perez (R) sees her sister Oralia Perez (L) for the first time since March 2020, after the U.S. reopens its border for people inoculated against the coronavirus disease in El Paso, Texas, US. [Reuters]

There were fewer crossings at the Mexico-United States border than expected on Monday as it reopened to nonessential travel following a 20-month closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with many residents staying home to avoid potential chaos.