Mexico Border Shutdown is Only Stopping Recreational and Tourism Travel By Sandra G. Leon President Donald Trump instituted a limited reduction of non-essential traffic across the US-Mexico border starting on Saturday but it does not affect US citizens or lawful US residents. Non-US citizens with proper passports and visas are still allowed to cross into the US for employment, business, school, medical treatment, visiting family, and governmental work. The official order authorized by Acting-Secretary of Homeland Security Chad F. Wolf states that “I have determined that land ports of entry along the U.S.- Mexican border will suspend normal operations and process for entry only those travelers engaged in “essential travel”, but then defines the only “non-essential” travel as “sightseeing, recreation, gambling, or attending cultural events.”