Lauren Hughes, 23, lives in Windsor and her fiance Addie Rivett, 24, lives in Farmington Hills. Despite being in different countries, door-to-door their homes are a mere 20-minute drive across the Detroit River.
But they might as well be oceans apart. Like so many unmarried, but committed couples where one person resides in Canada and the other in the states, they can't visit each other because of Canada's international border restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Earlier this month, Canada extended its restrictions against U.S. citizens entering its country another 30 days to Aug. 21 as cases of coronavirus continue to surge stateside.
More: These couples want the same right as married couples when crossing the border
The international non-U.S. travel restriction was set to expire Friday, but the government of Canada extended it to Aug. 31, to the dismay of some because of a lack of clear guidance on family reunification, which is a preferred option to open borders.
"So now we wait," said Hughes. "Wait to be included as family, wait for a vaccine, wait for U.S. embassies and consulates around the world to open, wait for a miracle that U.S. case numbers go down, or that this virus miraculously goes away. Just a lot of waiting."
This is not the first time Canada has extended its border restrictions. But this time the group Advocacy for Family Reunification at the Canadian Border, of which Hughes and Rivett are members, is demanding action.
It is ready to take Canada to court charging discrimination based on family status. But first, the group hopes that a collaborative approach will succeed.
A four-point plan
Canada's restrictions prevent foreign nationals, including U.S. citizens, from entering Canada by land, air or sea for any discretionary travel including checking on a seasonal home, visiting friends or partners with the exception of spouses or common-law relationships. It defines common law as couples who have lived together uninterrupted for at least a full year.
Earlier this month, the advocacy group, which has about 4,400 members, presented a four-point proposal to the Canadian government suggesting ways to safely allow for exemptions beyond marriage and common law. To abate concerns that family reunification would expose Canadians to the virus, the group proposed the following:
- An Affidavit of Personal Responsibility: The Canadian will sign a legally and financially binding attestation that the foreign national family member will follow public health guidelines. This can be enforced by fines or incarceration.
- Safe Coverage Provision: The Canadian will be responsible for the foreign national family member’s health care costs in Canada, or there will be proof of insurance covering COVID-19.
- Border Point of Care Testing Provision: The foreign national will take and pay for any COVID-19 testing available both at the border and in follow up. This is how Canadian health care workers and how international NHL players are able to operate in Canada.
- Family Quarantine Provision: The Canadian family member(s) will quarantine for 14 days upon reuniting with the foreign national. The asymptomatic foreign national will quarantine their entire stay in Canada, up to 14 days.
The group has launched Faces of Advocacy, a social media campaign showing all the separated Canadian families.
"I am aware of the seriousness of this virus, which is why I am for quarantining and keeping the border closed for the time being," Hughes said. "However, we are just asking for an exemption with strict guidelines. We hope to get a yes or no on this proposal."
Decision will be Canada's
A spokeswoman for Bill Blair, Canada's minister of public safety and emergency preparedness, did not comment on the government's position on the four-point proposal or the possibility of court action.
But, in an email, Blair's spokeswoman Mary-Liz Power said: “We brought forward significant restrictions at our borders to flatten the curve and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Canada. These decisions have not been taken lightly, but we know that they are necessary to keep Canadians safe."
Canadians have made significant sacrifices amidst the pandemic, and the government has been looking at ways to keep families together and reunite others who were separated, Power said.
"We have brought forward measures that will permit a limited exemption to this restriction for asymptomatic, immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to enter Canada to reunite," Power said. "The decision on when to reopen our border will be made in Canada, in the best interest of Canadians. We will continue to do what is necessary to keep Canadians safe and will base our decisions on the best public health evidence available.”
Escalating pressure
Meanwhile U.S. legislators have been applying pressure on both governments to ease restrictions.
But U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, said it would “not surprise” her if the border restrictions remain in place at least through year-end.
Dingell said she continues to aggressively push for a plan that would allow for non-married committed couples and property owners to have some exceptions. She said people in both governments are discussing the issue.
“I don’t know where this will end, but I’ve had discussions with the ambassador and counsel general and they recognize there are people in the United State with property issues in Canada,” Dingell told the Free Press. “They’re trying to ensure that Canadians stay safe, but they do recognize there are special situations.”
For its part, Advocacy for Family Reunification at the Canadian Border wants the Canadian government to at least consider its proposal and work collaboratively to resolve the matter. In an open letter written Friday, the group's co-founder David Poon wrote:
"I plead with the Government of Canada to consider our Policy Proposal with Family Reunification Quarantine Plan. In it, we detail the legal argument that the current travel restrictions are in violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and are discriminatory based on family status. We WANT a collaborative approach with the government, and have not been given that opportunity. We know you have heard us. Now will you talk to us? We are not asking for open borders. We are just asking to be together."
No wedding date set
For now, Hughes and Rivett cannot pick a wedding date or venue. Hughes has applied for a K-1 visa that would allow her, as a fiancee, to move to the United States. It's a long and expensive process that the couple has already spent thousands on.
"The next step is to get our case approved. The normal wait time is eight months, but it'll probably be 17 months now," Hughes said. "A lot of people are waiting for Montreal to open up to do the face-to-face visa interviews."
Beyond wanting to share a life, the two already share a dog, a border-collie/Labrador retriever mix. The pup has been living with Hughes, so Rivett won't see her pet until the border opens by land because they do not want to fly the animal to the States.
Hughes, however, will be flying. She has a flight booked in September to the U.S., noting, "It's a four-hour drive for me to Toronto and a 40-minute flight and $500 even though it's a 20-minute drive from my house."
Plus, she said driving is safer and offers far less potential exposure to infected people.
Hughes plans to stay a month stateside with Rivett, "if all goes well" at the U.S. border. After that, the couple has no idea when they will see each other again.
"I'm expecting it to be closed until at least the new year," Hughes said. "And without a vaccine, it could be longer. I don't see the border opening up any time soon."
More: Legislators tell US and Canada government: Make a plan to open the border now
Contact Jamie L. LaReau at 313-222-2149 or jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter.
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